Free sugars and gingival inflammation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology 2023-09, Vol.50 (9), p.1188-1201
• Main Authors: Woelber, J. P., Gebhardt, D., Hujoel, P. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dental plaque; Gingiva; gingivitis; Gum disease; Inflammation; Literature reviews; Meta-analysis; periodontal disease; Regression analysis; Statistical analysis; sucrose; Sugar; sugars; Systematic review
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13831

Aim Consumption of free sugars has been associated with chronic non‐communicable diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of free‐sugar consumption on gingival inflammation using a systematic review and meta‐analysis based on the PICO question ‘What impact does the restriction of free sugars have on the inflammation of gingival tissue?’ Materials and Methods Literature review and analyses were based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Controlled clinical studies reporting on free‐sugar interventions and gingival inflammation were included. Risk of bias was performed with ROBINS‐I and ROB‐2, and effect sizes were estimated with robust variance meta‐regressions. Results Of the 1777 primarily identified studies, 1768 were excluded, and 9 studies with 209 participants with gingival inflammation measures were included. Six of these studies reported on the dental plaque scores of 113 participants. Restriction of free sugars, when compared with no such restriction, was associated with statistically significantly improved gingival health scores (standard mean difference [SMD] = −0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.43 to −0.42, p