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Grapefruit consumption improves vitamin C status in periodontitis patients H. Staudte, B. W. Sigusch and E. Glockmann Br Dent J 2005; 199: 213–217

Comment

In spite of intensive research in periodontology the number of periodontal diseases are very high worldwide. In dental practice we are often confronted with severe and therapy resistant forms of periodontitis. The use of mechanical and chemical treatments yield only momentary improvement of the periodontal conditions in some cases. Additional to local factors the investigation of physiological conditions influencing the periodontal system could also be important.

In this study, Staudte, Sigusch and Glockmann measured decreased plasma vitamin C levels in periodontitis patients, especially in smokers. To improve the vitamin C supply they chose grapefruit as a natural source of vitamin C. In the progression of the study the patients ate two grapefruits per day for a period of two weeks. The investigation of the gingival inflammation and the plasma vitamin C levels showed an improvement after the grapefruit consumption, whereas the plaque index and the pocket depths were unaffected. The authors ascribed these results to the physiological functions of vitamin C in collagen synthesis, the immune and the antioxidant system. Furthermore they supposed that other biological substances in grapefruit may also have positive effects.

The contents of the study allude to a topical field in periodontal research. The involvement of environmental factors, eg nutrition, in the choice of the periodontal therapy is important for successful and durable healing. In earlier times vitamin C was the object of experimental periodontal investigations, but the results were often contradictory. This clinical study shows the positive effects of vitamin C rich fruits on periodontal health, and deliver a possibility to complement periodontal therapy. In their study the authors used grapefruits as a source of vitamin C. However grapefruits and all the other citrus fruits may lead to dental erosion by frequent consumption. In this case it is necessary to consider other sources of vitamin C like green vegetables which do not have an erosive effect on the hard tissues of teeth.

In the future more controlled studies are needed to assess the influence of specific nutrients on periodontal disease onset, progression and treatment.