Systematic review supports use of omega-3 supplements as adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy

The use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a dietary supplement has a moderately beneficial effect when used as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT), according to a systematic review, now summarised as JCP Digest 106.

The review, conducted by Dutch researchers, found that the use of omega-3 supplements during NSPT was associated with an additional reduction in probing pocket depth and an increase in clinical attachment levels.

The findings contrast with the systematic review performed by the EFP’s Perio Workshop 2019, which drew up the federation’s clinical-practice guideline for the treatment of stage I-III periodontitis, which did not find sufficient evidence to recommend the adjunctive use of omega-3 supplements.

However, this difference may be explained by the study’s use of more flexible inclusion criteria than those used in drawing up the guideline. There was also considerable heterogeneity among the articles included in this systematic review.

READ JCP DIGEST