Fish oil diet effects on alveolar bone loss, in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of replacing a saturated fat diet by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA), on alveolar bone loss in hypercholesterolemic rats with experimental periodontitis (PD).\n\n\nMETHODS\nEight week old Wistar rats were assigned according to dietary intake. Control group (C, n\u202f=\u202f15) fed a commercial diet throughout the experiment. Atherogenic group (AT, n\u202f=\u202f30) fed AT diet for 3 weeks; thereafter, AT was randomized to receive either a n-3PUFA (n\u202f=\u202f15) or to continue with AT (n\u202f=\u202f15) diet. Subsequently, PD was induced in all groups by unilateral ligature (L) of the first molar (M1) of the left mandible, non-ligated contralateral molars served as controls. After every week of PD induction, 5 rats per group were euthanized. Serum was collected for lipids assays and hemi-mandibles were subjected to histomorphometric (% upper and lower interradicular bone volume and periodontal ligament height, hPDL) and radiographic analyses (periodontal bone support, PBS, in ligated teeth, between M1-M2).\n\n\nRESULTS\nRats fed n-3PUFA diet rapidly induced a significant reduction in the serum lipids (p\u202f<\u202f0.001). In all rats the ligated teeth showed a greater bone loss as compared with the unligated molars. At the end of the experiment the AT\u202f+\u202fL was the worst in % lower bone volume (p\u202f<\u202f0.01), hPDL and PBS (p\u202f<\u202f0.05). In contrast, rats fed n-3PUFA\u202f+\u202fL was similar to those rats fed C diet (p\u202f>\u202f0.05).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nAlveolar bone and dyslipidemia improved by substituting saturated fat intake for a n-3PUFA rich diet, in hypercholesterolemic rats with PD.