Gingival status during prolonged fasting for weight loss

Nineteen obese patients were observed during a prolonged period of fasting for weight loss. The period of fasting ranged from 15 to 71 days. The patients consumed a dose of certain vitamins and minerals with 2 liters of water per day. No effort was made to alter the patient at the beginning and termination of the fasting period. At the time of original recording the Plaque and Gingival Index correlated directly. As the fasting period lengthened, there was a decrease in the Plaque Index scores but the Ginival Index scores increased considerably. This is an opposite correlation to what one would expect in individuals maintained on an adequate diet.