Effects of the systemic administration and topical application of omega -3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on experimental gingivitis in rats.
Author(s): Qayssar Riyadh Abdulrazzaq* and Athraa Mustafa Salih
Abstract
Introduction: Gingivitis is a reversible form of periodontal disease in which the inflammation is limited to the gingiva and no other supporting tissues are destroyed. Omega-3 PUFA has the most effective immune modulatory properties of all the fatty acids. Few studies have investigated topical usage of omega 3 poly unsaturated fatty acid in the treatment of gingivitis.
Aim of the study: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on ligature induced gingivitis in rats through the immunological analysis for rat’s gingival tissue level of IL-1β.
Materials and methods: The gingivitis was induced for rats by ligation around lower central incisors. Fifty animals with the induced gingivitis were divided into: Five animals were sacrificed at the first day after removal of ligature and fifteen animals as positive control group. Fifteen animals were used as 1st treatment group with orally gavage omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and fifteen animals as 2nd treatment groups with topically applied omega 3 a five animals were used as negative control groups (-ve) group.
The rats were sacrificed and histological tissue samples were evaluated for the inflammatory tissue changes. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were measured by ELISA three hours after ligation removal (day zero), three days, one week and two weeks for immunological analysis.
Results: The result showed that the level of IL-1β were significantly lower in the treatment groups in comparison with positive control groups, and there were significant difference between the two treatment groups at the 3rd day after removal of ligature and non-significant difference between these groups in the 7th and 14th day. T-test was used for the statistical analyses, with P<0.05 regarded as significant.
Conclusion: Systemic and topical application of omega-3 fatty acids is effective in reducing inflammation in induced rat gingivitis, resulting in a decreased level of IL-1β.