‘Fasting’ could reduce periodontal inflamation
Dietary approach could complement periodontal therapy.
Periodontal treatment is known to trigger a short-term systemic inflammatory response, and the systemic effects of this have prompted interest in strategies to mitigate this inflammation.
Fasting has shown promise in lowering inflammation, but implementation and adherence can be challenging.
In a feasibility study, researchers from King’s College London and Akdeniz University in Turkey have assessed the safety and potential benefits of combining non-surgical periodontal therapy with a dietary option with higher likely compliance for treating patients with severe periodontitis.
Unlike traditional fasting, which requires complete abstinence from food, a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) is a carefully designed low-calorie diet that provides essential nutrients while inducing a fasting-like state in the body and is followed for several days each month.
Scientific evidence suggests that this approach triggers cellular and metabolic responses similar to those of prolonged fasting, including reduced inflammation and enhanced tissue repair, but with greater patient adherence and reduced discomfort compared with complete fasting.
“This research introduces a novel, non-invasive dietary approach to complement periodontal therapy, paving the way for future studies to further explore its clinical impact,” said the study’s authors.