In a recent study published in the journal npj Aging, researchers investigated whether dietary intervention alleviates the age-related systemic impact of oral infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis in a mouse model.
Periodontitis is an age-related disease characterized by a hyperinflammatory immune response, systemic inflammation, and shifts in the pathological oral microbiome. Severe periodontal diseases (PDs) affect about 19% of adults worldwide, i.e., over one billion people. PD is a disease of the tissues around the teeth, where plaque and bacterial pathogens accumulate, leading to a heightened inflammatory response and impaired resolution of inflammation.
Comorbidities, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis, can compromise tissue homeostasis at the infection site and lead to increased systemic bone loss. Oleic acid (OA) is a monounsaturated fatty acid, the main component of olive oil and the Mediterranean diet. Serum levels of OA negatively correlate with periodontal tissue loss. In contrast, serum levels of saturated fats, especially palmitic acid (PA), a component of the Western diet, positively correlate with PD.
