Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Eighteen months of supplementation with aged garlic extract significantly improved the probing pocket depth of affected teeth in the treatment group with periodontitis.
Chronic gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is the most common periodontal inflammation worldwide1. Periodontal disease, characterized by pockets between the teeth and gums, is an infection of the gums leading to bleeding and inflammation of the gums. Various system diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension are thought to be associated with periodontal disease 2. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a highly bioavailable and bioactive compound showing a broad spectrum of benefits 3,4. In a four- month trial, daily supplementation with aged garlic extract (AGE) significantly reduced gingival bleeding and inflammation 5. Researchers of the same study wanted to explore the long-term effect of supplementation with aged garlic extract (AGE) on periodontitis 6.
In a randomized double-blind placebo study, 200 participants between the age of 20-60 years old were assigned to received AGE tablets (n= 100; 8 tabs/day for 18 months) or placebo (n= 100; 8 tabs/day for 18 months). Volunteers had to be in good health, have 3 eligible periodontal sites, possess 16 natural teeth and agree to delay elective dentistry until completion of the trial. Participants had a periodontal examination at baseline, 12 months, and 18 months. Researchers measured gingival recession, which is the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the apical point of the receding gum, and the probing pocket depth (PPD) which is the distance between the apical point of the receding gum and the deepest point in gap between the tooth and gum. These measurements were conducted on six areas of the affected tooth: buccal, mesio-buccal, disto-buccal, lingual, mesio-lingual, and disto-lingual.
One hundred eighty-two participants completed the trial (AGE n=91, placebo n=91). Significant improvement was observed from baseline to 12 months and 18 months in both AGE and placebo groups (see Table 1). No improvement was observed for gingival recession during the trial.
Table 1. Post treatment Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) results
| Baseline (mean) | 12 months (mean) | 18 months (mean) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGE Group | 1.89 ± 0.74 mm | 1.09 ± 0.56*+ | 1.07 ± 0.49*+ |
| Placebo | 1.96 ± 0.72 mm | 1.60 ± 0.56 | 1.50 ± 0.52 |
+ p<0.001 between groups
* p<0.001 within group
After adjustment of baseline PPD scores, statistical significance was found within both groups (p<0.001) but not between both groups (p=0.765). Multilinear regression analysis showed that baseline PPD depth (p<0.001), smoking (p=0.020), and AGE supplementation (p<0.001) was significantly associated with PPD.
Results of the study showed that AGE supplementation slowed progress of periodontal disease by improving PPD scores of affected teeth. Researchers attributed improvements observed in the placebo group to participants within the placebo taking better care of their teeth during enrollment in the trial. Gingival recession was not improved by AGE supplementation. Further studies would explore the effective dose for treatment of periodontitis using AGE.
Source: Zini, Avraham, Jonathan Mann, Sigal Mazor, and Yuval Vered. “Beneficial effect of aged garlic extract on periodontitis: a randomized controlled double-blind clinical study.” Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 67, no. 3 (2020): 297-301.
© 2020 JCBN
Posted February 15, 2021.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
Reference:
- Dye BA. Global periodontal disease epidemiology. Periodontol 2000. 2012;58(1):10-25.
- Winning L, Linden GJ. Periodontitis and Systemic Disease: Association or Causality? Current oral health reports. 2017;4(1):1-7.
- Eilat-Adar S, Sinai T, Yosefy C, Henkin Y. Nutritional recommendations for cardiovascular disease prevention. Nutrients. 2013;5(9):3646-3683.
- Reinhart KM, Talati R, White CM, Coleman CI. The impact of garlic on lipid parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Res Rev. 2009;22(1):39-48.
- Zini A, Mann J, Mazor S, Vered Y. The Efficacy of Aged Garlic Extract on Gingivitis – A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journal of clinical dentistry. 2018;29(2):52-56.
- Zini A, Mann J, Mazor S, Vered Y. Beneficial effect of aged garlic extract on periodontitis: a randomized controlled double-blind clinical study. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2020;67(3):297-301.
