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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jan;52(1):125-136.
doi: 10.1111/jcpe.14066. Epub 2024 Oct 14.

Effect of a Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet on Periodontal Parameters in Patients With Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Secondary Sub-Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

C L Pappe  1 , S Lutzenberger  1 , K Goebler  2 , S Meier  1 , M Jeitler  3   4 , A Michalsen  3   4 , H Dommisch  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of a Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet on Periodontal Parameters in Patients With Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Secondary Sub-Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

C L Pappe et al. J Clin Periodontol. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of a 16-week whole-food plant-based diet (WPBD) on periodontal parameters in patients with increased cardiometabolic risk.

Materials and methods: A total of 36 participants from a randomized clinical trial received additional periodontal assessment. The intervention group (n = 17) followed a WPBD for 16 weeks, whereas the control group (CG) (n = 19) was instructed not to change their diet. Measurements were assessed at baseline (t1), week 8 (t2) and week 16 (t3). Periodontal examination included bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and plaque index (PI) on six index teeth, salivary pH and matrix-matalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8).

Results: At t3, the mean PISA of the index teeth was reduced by 32 mm2 (53.8) in the WPBD group and increased by 22.6 mm2 (45.1) in the CG group (intra-group p = 0.255 and p = 0.977, respectively), BOP changes were similar (intra-group p = 0.89 and p = 0.839, respectively). MMP-8 values reduced in the WPBD group by 50.73 ng/mL (117) and in the CG by 5.40 ng/mL (96.6) (intra-group p = 0.066, p = 0.837, respectively). Difference in change (t3 - t1) between the groups was p = 0.001, p = 0.003 and p = 0.032, respectively. Saliva pH increased in the WPBD group only (intra-group p = 0.007).

Conclusion: A trend towards stabilization of the inflammatory parameters (BOP, PISA) was observed in the WPBD group. Because of the non-significant changes within the groups, this study highlights the imperative for future studies.

Gov identifier: NCT03901183.

Keywords: bleeding on probing; hypertension; periodontal inflammation; whole‐food plant‐based diet.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Study flow chart. BMI, body mass index; BOP, bleeding on probing; BP, blood pressure; CHOL, total cholesterol; CRP, C‐reactive protein; LDL, low‐density lipoprotein; MMP‐8, matrix metalloproteinase‐8; OHIP, Oral Health Impact Profile; PI, plaque index; PPD, periodontal probing depth.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
CONSORT flow diagram of the number of included patients and after correction for excluded patients and dropouts.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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