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. 2010 Nov;110(11):1669-75.
doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2010.08.009.

n-3 fatty acids and periodontitis in US adults

Asghar Z Naqvi  1 , Catherine Buettner, Russell S Phillips, Roger B Davis, Kenneth J Mukamal
Affiliations

n-3 fatty acids and periodontitis in US adults

Asghar Z Naqvi et al. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease. Although n-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, it is unclear whether n-3 fatty acids can treat or prevent periodontitis.

Method: We studied 9,182 adults aged 20 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004. Periodontitis was assessed by dental exam and was defined as >4 mm pocket depth and >3 mm attachment loss in any one tooth. Intake of n-3 fatty acids was assessed by 24-hour dietary recall. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the associations between periodontitis and intakes of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and linolenic acid (LNA).

Results: The weighted prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) of periodontitis was 8.2% (95% CI 7.0 to 9.4). Compared with the lowest tertiles, the adjusted odds ratios for periodontitis associated with the highest tertiles of dietary n-3 intake were 0.78 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.00; P=0.009) for DHA, 0.85 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.08; P=0.10) for EPA, and 0.86 (95% CI 0.60 to 1.23; P=0.28) for LNA. The associations were little changed by multivariable adjustment or exclusion of individuals reporting use of dietary supplements containing DHA, EPA, or LNA.

Conclusions: In this nationally representative sample, higher dietary intakes of DHA and, to a lesser degree, EPA, were associated with lower prevalence of periodontitis. Interventional studies are needed to confirm the potential protective effects of n-3 fatty acids on periodontitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: Dr.Mukamal is the principal investigator on an ongoing study funded by Harvard Medical School for which BIDMC received a donation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)and placebo capsules from Martek Corporation. Drs. Phillips, Davis, and Naqvi are coinvestigators on that trial. Martek provided no other resources or funds and has no role in the conduct or analysis of that study. Martek had no role whatsoever in the current manuscript. There are no other financial or personal interests to disclose.

Catherine Buettner provided programing support and expertise navigating the NHANES database.

Russell S. Phillips provided funding, guidance on the conception of relevent outcomes to study, the secondary analysis and data interpretation.

Roger B. Davis provided statistical and programing expertise.

Kenneth J. Mukamal provided guidance on the primary analysis plan, data interpretation and preparation of the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Multivariablea Linear Association between Tertile of PUFA Intake and logCRP (n=9183)
Abbreviations: PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acid; CRP: C-reactive protein; T: Tertile; DHA: Docosahexaenoic acid; EPA: Eicosapentaenoic acid; LNA: Linolenic Acid (alpha-linolenic acid and gamma-linolenic acid); aMultivariable model: adjusted for age, sex, total energy intake (kcal/day), race/ethnicity, smoking, education, income, physical activity, pregnancy, self-reported health status, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, origin of birth, alcohol and tertiles of other fatty acid intake.
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