Effect of low-protein diet on alveolar bone loss in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The present study demonstrated that hyperglycemic diabetic rats fed a low-protein (8%) diet maintained an alveolar bone height similar to controls; in contrast, those fed a standard protein diet (24%) had reduced alveolar bone height (P less than 0.05). Euglycemic diabetic and untreated control rats fed low-protein diets did not have significant differences in alveolar bone height compared to those fed standard protein diets. There was no evidence of gingival or periodontal inflammation or osteoclastic bone resorption at the alveolar crest in any animal studied. Thus, (1) hyperglycemic diabetic rats have significant alveolar bone loss in the absence of periodontal inflammation (P less than 0.001) and (2) this bone loss can be alleviated by diet (P less than 0.05). This data, taken together with previous studies on the effects of low-protein diet on the kidney, suggest that relieving the protein load on the diabetic kidney in poorly controlled diabetics is beneficial to the longevity of that organ, as well as the preservation of alveolar bone surrounding the teeth.