A short-term, calorie-restricted eating plan may influence inflammation associated with gum disease, according to a small randomized pilot trial. Researchers found lower levels of several inflammation markers among people who followed a fasting-mimicking diet while receiving conventional treatment for periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease.
The results are intriguing, but they are preliminary. The study included only 28 adults, and the diet did not produce measurable additional improvements in standard clinical measures of gum health over six months. The research evaluated commercially available ProLon fasting-mimicking diet kits, which were supplied free of charge by L-Nutra Inc. Study co-author Valter D. Longo holds an equity interest in the company and patents related to the fasting-mimicking diet. The researchers reported that the company was not involved in the study design, data analysis or preparation of the paper.
“Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients,” said Dr. Giuseppe Mainas, the study’s first author and a researcher at King’s College London.
Periodontitis damages the tissues that support the teeth. Treatment typically includes professional cleaning above and below the gumline, along with support for good oral hygiene. Researchers are increasingly interested in whether eating patterns may also affect inflammation and influence how people respond to treatment.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, included patients treated at five university dental clinics in Spain. All participants received standard gum disease treatment. Half were randomly assigned to complete three cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet over six months, while the other half continued eating their usual diets.
The diet was not a complete fast. During each cycle, participants consumed approximately 1,100 calories per day for two days, followed by approximately 750 calories per day for three days. On the sixth day, they gradually increased their calories with soft foods before returning to their normal eating patterns on the seventh day.
After six months, researchers analyzed blood samples and fluid collected from the small space between the teeth and gums. Compared with the control group, participants assigned to the fasting-style diet had lower levels of C-reactive protein, a broad marker of inflammation in the body. They also had lower levels of certain molecules associated with inflammation in the gums.
Those findings do not mean that the diet has been shown to treat gum disease. Both groups experienced improvements in standard clinical measures of gum health after receiving conventional treatment, but the researchers did not find additional measurable improvements in those outcomes among the participants who followed the fasting-style diet.
The study was designed primarily to explore whether the intervention was practical and to identify signals that might justify a larger trial. Twenty-seven of the 28 participants completed the six-month follow-up. All 14 participants assigned to the fasting-style diet completed the three cycles. Some reported minor side effects, including fatigue, headaches, nausea and constipation.
Researchers do not yet know why the diet may have influenced inflammatory markers. One possibility is that temporarily restricting calories and refined carbohydrates may reduce oxidative stress, a process that can contribute to inflammation. Changes in the oral or gut microbiome could also play a role, but the study did not establish a mechanism.
“There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients,” said Prof. Luigi Nibali, the study’s senior author and a researcher at King’s College London. He added that more research is needed to understand whether the microbiome is involved.
The researchers said a larger study would be needed before a fasting-mimicking diet could be considered as a supporting tool in gum disease care. The approach would not replace brushing, professional cleaning or other conventional treatments.
Restrictive diets are also not appropriate for everyone. People with diabetes, for example, may face risks when sharply reducing their food intake and should not try this type of eating plan without medical guidance.
“Now we have established this relationship, we would like to do a larger study, before potentially incorporating into gum disease treatment in the future,” Mainas said.
The study was supported by a Medical Research Council Impact Accelerator Account grant. ProLon fasting-mimicking diet kits were provided free of charge by L-Nutra Inc. Study co-author Valter D. Longo holds an equity interest in L-Nutra Inc. and patents related to the fasting-mimicking diet.