Low-calorie fasting-style diet linked to reduced gum inflammation

A short, low-calorie diet designed to mimic fasting was linked to reduced inflammation tied to serious gum disease in a small clinical study, according to King’s College London. The findings suggest diet may become a useful add-on to standard periodontal care, though researchers said larger studies are needed before it can be used in treatment.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, involved 28 patients recruited from hospitals in Spain. Researchers assigned participants either to a fasting-mimicking diet or to continue eating as usual, then compared inflammation markers after six months.

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease that affects millions of people worldwide, according to King’s College London. The condition has also been linked with wider health problems, including heart disease and diabetes.

Current treatment usually centers on removing plaque and cleaning infected areas around the teeth, King’s College London said. The new work examined whether temporary calorie restriction could influence the body’s inflammatory response alongside those dental measures.

How the diet was tested

Patients in the fasting-mimicking group followed a five-day calorie-restricted plan. They consumed 1,100 calories a day for the first two days, then 750 calories a day for the next three days, according to the university.

On the sixth day, participants gradually raised calorie intake with soft foods. They returned to their usual diet on the seventh day. The cycle was repeated three times across six months, and participants reported that the plan was relatively easy to follow, King’s College London said.

After six months, researchers examined blood samples and gingival crevicular fluid, the fluid found in the small space between the tooth and gum. The university said that fluid helps protect the gums and defend against harmful microbes.

Compared with the control group, participants who completed the fasting-style program had lower levels of inflammation-related markers in blood and gum tissue, according to King’s College London. They also had lower levels of C-reactive protein, a common marker of inflammation in the body.

The fasting group also showed reductions in molecules associated specifically with gum inflammation, the researchers reported.

Possible explanations and limits

Dr. Giuseppe Mainas, the study’s first author at King’s College London, said the findings suggest lifestyle changes could be relevant alongside proper tooth brushing for patients. The university said the trial is the first to show a link between fasting and markers of gum disease, although fasting has previously been associated with reduced inflammation elsewhere in the body.

Professor Luigi Nibali, senior author at King’s College London, said several mechanisms could explain the effect. He said fasting may reduce oxidative stress, which can drive inflammation and damage cells and DNA.

Nibali also said restricting high-calorie foods and refined carbohydrates, such as cakes and biscuits, could lower oxidative stress. He added that fasting may affect the microbiome, the body’s community of bacteria, but said more research is needed to confirm that link.

Mainas said the team wants to run a larger study before considering whether fasting-mimicking diets could be incorporated into gum disease treatment. He also cautioned that food restriction can be dangerous for some people, including some patients with diabetes, and said advice would need to be tailored to specific groups.

The work builds on other King’s College London research into oral and overall health. The university said previous findings from its researchers linked a Mediterranean diet with reduced gum disease and found that successful dental treatment could lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

The research was funded through a Medical Research Council-Impact Accelerator Account grant, according to King’s College London.

This story draws on original reporting from ScienceDaily.