Dietary therapy and non-surgical periodontal treatment in obese patients with chronic periodontitis.

AIM: The effect of dietary weight loss intervention on periodontal therapy is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether weight loss improves the response of obese subjects to non-surgical periodontal treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This interventional study in obese patients was conducted at the University Hospital Dr. Peset (Valencia, Spain). Patients were divided into two groups with and without dietary therapy. All participants received non-surgical periodontal treatment. Periodontal, anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks.

RESULTS: 78 patients were re-evaluated after intervention. All periodontal parameters improved in both groups after periodontal treatment, but the reductions in mean probing depth (PD) (0.23 mm vs 0.12 mm) and in percentage of sites with PD 4-5 mm (10.4% vs 5.89%) were significantly higher in the dietary group. Additionally, complement component 3 (C3) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) decreased in the dietary group after intervention. Percentage of change of mean PD correlated with change in C3 (r=0.233, p=0.043), and percentage of change of sites with PD 4-5 mm correlated with change in TNFα (r=0.414, p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dietary weight loss intervention causes a greater reduction of systemic inflammation, which may enhance the response to periodontal treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.