Evaluation of dietary supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on salivary interleukin-1β levels in patients with chronic periodontitis: A clinico-immunological study.

CONTEXT: Host modulation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) has anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution actions through replacing and inhibiting metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA).

AIM: This study was aimed at evaluating clinical parameters and salivary levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) after scaling and root planing (SRP) in chronic periodontitis patients, with and without dietary supplementation of ω-3 PUFAs.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

Forty otherwise healthy participants with severe chronic periodontitis were included. Full-mouth periodontal examination and scaling and root planing were done for test and control group (20 participants each).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The control group received SRP alone while test group received daily dose of 700 mg ω-3 PUFA capsules for 3 months. All clinical parameters were checked at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months' duration, whereas levels of IL-1β were checked in saliva at baseline and 3 months after therapy.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: T-test and repeated measure analysis of variance were used with Statistical Package for the Social Science Windows software.

RESULTS

Improvements in all clinical outcomes were similar in both groups over 3 months. Improvements in clinical parameters were not statistically significant on intergroup comparison, except for improvement in Bleeding Index and reduction in levels of IL-1β, which were statistically significant in test group as compared to control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Even though adjunct therapy with ω-3 PUFAs can modulate cytokine levels and show proresolution properties, its importance on clinical outcomes may be controversial. Thus, this may be used as an adjunctive management of chronic periodontitis.