Influence of Nutrition and Physical Activity on Local and Systemic Inflammatory Signs in Experimentally Induced Gingivitis

Abstract

Although numerous studies have been published investigating the relationship between various dietary components and inflammatory periodontal disease, it has not yet been possible to clearly distinguish between periodontally healthy and unhealthy diets. This clinical study aimed to assess the association of specific food ingredients and physical activity on local and systemic inflammatory signs in experimentally induced gingivitis. Thirty-nine non-smoking periodontally healthy volunteers (mean age 23.2 ± 3.8 years) refrained from oral hygiene in the right maxilla for 21 days to induce an experimental gingivitis. Clinical examination (baseline and day 21) included plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival crevicular fluid volume and high sensitive C-reactive protein levels (blood sample). Accompanying the intervention, volunteers documented with validated questionnaires their physical activity converted into metabolic equivalent (MET) and their nutrition converted into the dietary inflammatory index (DII). Significantly lower BOP (p = 0.039) was found for subjects with a more anti-inflammatory DII than for those with a more pro-inflammatory DII; higher MET values were correlated with lower BOP at day 21 (correlation coefficient −0.36). The results show an influence of nutrition and physical activity on periodontal inflammation signs. The DII may be a suitable parameter to verify the relationship between nutrition and inflammatory periodontal diseases.

Healthier Smile: The Role of Diet and Nutrition in the Prevention and Therapy of Caries, Gingivitis, and Periodontitis

“…Staufenbiel et al [15] investigated the influence of nutrition and physical activity on the course of experimental gingivitis. They analyzed the data of thirty-nine non-smoking periodontally healthy participants and concluded that both an anti-inflammatory diet (measured with the dietary inflammatory index) and physical activity, or, even better, a combination of both, were able to reduce the amount of bleeding on probing (BOP).…”