Assessing periodontitis risk from specific dietary patterns: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Nutritional Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Periodontal disease prevalence is rising globally.
• Dietary patterns are increasingly recognized as a modifiable risk factor for various chronic diseases, including oral conditions.
• Understanding the link between diet and periodontitis is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis investigating the association between specific dietary patterns and the risk of developing periodontitis.
• To synthesize existing evidence on how different diets influence periodontal disease risk.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across three databases (inception to November 2024) following PRISMA guidelines.
• Meta-analysis of 19 studies examining 5 distinct dietary patterns and their correlation with periodontitis risk.
• Statistical analysis using random-effects or fixed-effects models to calculate summary estimates (95% CI) and assess heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• Diets high in inflammation-promoting foods were associated with a significantly increased risk of periodontitis (OR=1.39).
• Mediterranean, plant-based, and dairy-rich dietary patterns showed a reduced risk of periodontitis (ORs ranging from 0.76 to 0.96).
• No statistically significant association was found between Western dietary patterns and periodontitis risk (OR=1.07).

Conclusions:

• Specific dietary patterns are significantly associated with periodontitis risk.
• Pro-inflammatory diets elevate the risk, underscoring the need for dietary modifications.
• Adopting protective dietary patterns like the Mediterranean or plant-based diet may help mitigate periodontitis incidence.