Pilot study on n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of human experimental gingivitis

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory effect of n-3 PUFA on the gingivae has already been demonstrated in animal models. The aim of this double-blind, randomized pilot study versus placebo is to evaluate this action in human experimentally-induced gingivitis. For 14 days (D0-D14), 37 healthy volunteers practised intensive oral hygiene, then abstained from brushing their teeth for 21 days (D14 to D35). On D28, the patients were randomized into 2 groups: 18 received the drug (fish oil: 30% n-3 PUFA) and 19 received the placebo (olive oil containing only 1% of n-3 PUFA) at a daily dosage of 6 g (i.e., 1.8 g of n-3 PUFA) 3x for 8 days (D28-D35). The plaque (PI), gingival (GI) and papillary bleeding (PBI) indices were measured on D14, D28 and D35. On D28 and D35, 10 volunteers underwent removal of an inter-dental vestibular papilla, between the 1st and the 2nd superior premolars, to measure out arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). A gingival biopsy was also taken in another 11 patients, to assay prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The clinical results of the trial demonstrated, in particular, a significant reduction of GI in the treated group (p < 0.05, Student t-test), but no significant difference between the groups. The biochemical results showed that EPA, DHA and DPA were found in the cells sampled, at higher levels in the subjects taking the drug, with a significant difference for EPA between the 2 groups (p < 0.05, Student t-test). The levels of AA, PGE2 and LTB4 are reduced in the experimental group and increased in the control group, with no significant difference. The LTB4 levels decreased but this difference just failed to reach significance (p = 0.09. Student t-test). This human experimental gingivitis study demonstrated that n-3 PUFA induced a tendency towards reduced inflammation but it was not possible to conclude significant efficacy.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Effect on Alveolar Bone Loss in Rats

“…In a recent study, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), principal ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present in fish oil, were shown to decrease osteoclast activation in vitro . Campan et al (1996Campan et al ( , 1997 reported that human experimental gingivitis appeared to be modified by ω-3 FA, although no definitive conclusions were provided. It has also been reported that the n-6 PUFA levels in the serum are higher in periodontitis patients, suggesting that an imbalance between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids may contribute to susceptibility to oral bone loss (Requirand et al, 2000).…”

Docosahexaenoic Acid and Periodontitis in Adults

“…Omega-3 fatty acids (N-3s), such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have anti-inflammatory properties (Campan et al, 1997;Eberhard et al, 2002;Zhao et al, 2007). Indeed, topical application of bioactive products derived from N-3s in the presence of aspirin (ASA), which reduces enzymatic inactivation via acetylation (Sun et al, 2007), confers dramatic protection against inflammation-induced tissue and bone loss from periodontitis in experimental models (Hasturk et al, 2006).…”

Evaluation of Efficacy of Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Obese Patients: A Pilot Study

“…They demonstrated that n-3 PUFA induced a tendency toward reduced inflammation, but were unable to conclude significant efficacy [25]. Eberhard et al studied the clinical effects of the topical application of omega-6 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with experimental gingivitis.…”