For men, especially older men, dieting may help reduce the risk of gum disease more than for women, according to researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and other institutions.
Their study appears in the October 15 online issue of Nutrition, and will appear in the January print edition.
The study of 81 rhesus monkeys at the National Institutes of Health showed that males fed a diet of 30% fewer calories for 13 to 17 years had significantly lower levels of periodontal pocketing, less immune response to invading bacteria, and higher inflammatory molecules than males fed a normal diet.
Also, for the monkeys not fed the reduced-calorie diet, males showed "significantly greater periodontal breakdown" than females. Consistent with previous studies of humans, the monkeys in the study showed an increasing degree of gum problems as they aged.
The study also provides insights into the link between chronic inflammation and poor health, according to Mark Reynolds, D.D.S., Ph.D., an associate professor at the UMB Dental School and chair of the department of periodontics.
"Chronic inflammation appears to be an important factor underlying aging and many age-related disorders, and dietary restriction has been shown to reduce the risk for chronic disease and promote longevity in multiple animal models," Dr. Reynolds said in a press release.
