Use of Dietary Supplements in Patients Seeking Treatment at a Periodontal Clinic

Abstract

Dietary supplement use may modify the risk of periodontal disease but effects on wound healing after periodontal procedures are less clear. This study characterized dietary supplement use by male and female patients (n = 376) attending a periodontal clinic—information that is essential for evidence-based intervention studies that may improve patient outcomes after periodontal procedures. Calcium, vitamin D, multivitamin and vitamin C were most commonly used. A greater (p ≤ 0.05) number of males took no supplements compared to females, and more (p ≤ 0.05) females than males took ≥ four supplements. Females took more (p ≤ 0.05) calcium, vitamin D, fish oil, green tea, magnesium, omega 3,6,9 and B vitamin complex. Younger patients (31–50 years) had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) frequency of no supplement use compared to older age groups. Patients over age 50 had a higher (p ≤ 0.05) frequency of using ≥ four supplements including calcium and vitamin D. Supplement use was lower (p ≤ 0.05) in smokers, particularly for calcium, fish oil, green tea and vitamin D. In conclusion, females, older individuals and non-smokers have higher supplement use. Future dietary intervention studies can focus on supplements with known biological activities—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or osteogenic activity—that may enhance wound healing after reconstructive periodontal procedures.

Patients undergoing periodontal procedures commonly use dietary supplements: A consideration in the design of intervention trials

“…Moreover, the findings are largely generalizable to the overall adult population as both sexes and a range of adult ages were included. This study also shows that supplement use had remained fairly consistent over time when compared to a similar study previously conducted among this population (Johnston et al, 2013). It was previously reported that 64.1% of patients attending this clinic for general examination or surgical consultation were taking dietary supplements (Johnston et al, 2013).…”

“…This study also shows that supplement use had remained fairly consistent over time when compared to a similar study previously conducted among this population (Johnston et al, 2013). It was previously reported that 64.1% of patients attending this clinic for general examination or surgical consultation were taking dietary supplements (Johnston et al, 2013). The patients included in this present study—patients undergoing implant or soft tissue graft surgery—are of particular interest because following their surgery, they could be in a position to further support their recovery by adding dietary supplements to their post‐surgical care (Gorecki et al, 2018).…”

“…Higher supplement use was also associated with being a nonsmoker. While this result must be interpreted with caution because there were only 13 patients (6%) who were smokers, this finding is supported by previous reports (Bailey et al, 2013; Johnston, Fritz, & Ward, 2013) including data from NHANES 2007–2010 which showed that nonsmokers report being supplement users more frequently than smokers in the general population (Bailey et al, 2013).…”

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Usage Related to Dietary Supplements in a Group of Canadian Dental Students: A Pilot Study

“…There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that selected macro and micronutrients, in sufficient levels, are not only essential for the development of tooth structures but may also play a role in modifying the progression and treatment outcomes of periodontal disease [8,31]. Further, the increasing use of dietary supplements by the general public and the possibility of interactions with prescription medication make it imperative that oral health providers be erudite about the role of nutrition in the general and oral health of their patients.…”

“…The disease is considered to be the main cause of tooth loss in adults [6]. Recently though, an increasing body of evidence from dietary intervention studies has investigated the effect of several macro and micronutrients on the health of the periodontium and on attenuating the disease process [7][8][9][10].…”