Researchers have uncovered systemic links between dietary patterns and periodontal health. A new international study investigated whether a fasting-mimicking diet, which sharply restricts calorie intake, could act as a complementary treatment for advanced gum disease.
The six-month trial recruited 28 periodontitis patients. Half followed a strict regimen consuming just 1,100 calories for two days and 750 calories for the subsequent three days, repeating this cycle monthly for three months. The control group maintained their normal diet.
After six months, the fasting group showed significantly lower markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein in the blood and inflammatory signals in the fluid between teeth and gums. While the diet did not accelerate the clinical resolution of periodontitis compared to standard deep cleaning, it effectively reduced the body's harmful inflammatory response.
Periodontologist Luigi Nibali from King's College London explained that fasting likely reduces oxidative stress and restricts refined carbohydrates, which are known to cause inflammation. The study suggests lifestyle modifications may be a valuable tool alongside mechanical cleaning, though researchers caution the biomarker trends require further validation in larger trials. The findings appear in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.