title: Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and periodontal recovery in Taiwanese with periodontitis: a significant relationship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are different before and after periodontal treatment. Asians and Westerners have significantly different baseline levels of plasma PUFAs. However, no Asian study has reported the effects of nonsurgical treatment on the correlation between periodontal condition and plasma levels of PUFAs. We analyzed whether recovery from periodontitis was correlated with the elevation of plasma fatty acids 3 months after the nonsurgical intervention and with no recommended supplements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five Taiwanese patients with periodontitis were recruited. Probing pocket depths (PPDs) and clinical attachment levels (CALs) were measured at baseline and 3 months after the nonsurgical treatment. Plasma levels of fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography. Differences and correlations between plasma fatty acid composition and periodontitis severity at baseline and 3 months after treatment were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients completed the study. At the baseline, PPDs were negatively correlated with plasma n-3 PUFAs (r=-0.52, p<0.01), but at 3 months post intervention, periodontitis severity had declined and the weight percentages of n-3 PUFAs, DPA, and DHA were significantly (p=0.019, 0.005, and 0.037, respectively) higher. The recovery percentages of CALs were positively and significantly correlated with plasma ΔPUFAs and the percentage of Δn-3 PUFAs in ΔPUFAs (r=0.42 and 0.45, respectively; p<0.05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that a higher weight percentage of n-3 PUFAs in total PUFAs was related to the recovery of CALs 3 months after the nonsurgical periodontal treatment. However, no such relationship was found for PPDs.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Health and Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Chia
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine and Department of Dentistry, University Hospital Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kun-Yen
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: chulin@cc.kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ying-Chu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Fatty acid composition; Nonsurgical periodontal treatment; Periodontitis; Plasma fatty acids; Saturated fatty acids; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids