Skip to content

Impact of Ultra-Processed Food Intake on Gingival Tissue Health

Impact of Ultra-Processed Food Intake on Gingival Tissue Health: A Pre-post Clinical Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06411535
Enrollment
66
Registered
2024-05-13
Start date
2024-05-21
Completion date
2024-10-28
Last updated
2024-10-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gingivitis, Ultra-processed Food, Prevention

Brief summary

The shift towards consuming more industrialized food products, particularly ultra-processed foods, has been linked to a rise in non-communicable diseases globally. These products are energy-dense, high in unhealthy components, and often lead to overconsumption due to their palatability and convenience. Studies suggest a connection between ultra-processed food consumption and various health issues, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The present study is designed as a single-center, double-blind, parallel-arm randomized clinical trial. This study aims to investigate the impact of ultra-processed food consumption on gingival health and to evaluate the potential benefits of dietary counseling and reduced ultra-processed food intake on gingival inflammation over a 4-month period.

Detailed description

The impact of shifting of a diet from less industrialized food products toward a more industrialized food products has a positive relationship to the global burden of non- communicable disease. This increase in the consumption of Ultra-Process food was first started in the high-income countries and now in medium-income countries. All together, they are energy dense, high in unhealthy types of fat, refined starches, free sugars and salt, and poor sources of protein, dietary fibre. Ultra-processed products are made to be hyper-palatable and attractive, with long shelf-life and able to be consumed anywhere, any time. Their formulation, presentation and marketing often promote overconsumption. Due to the high levels of additives, sugars and preservatives, they have been associated with various non-communicable diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases and systemic inflammation like periodontitis. In order to investigate a relationship between ultra-process food consumption and gingival health we used a food frequency questionnaire conducted and evaluated in a study in south of Italy with the classification of food according to the NOVA classification. In recent years the effect of ultra-processed foods consumption on systemic and oral health has received more attention. Several studies have reported a significant association between caries and ultra-processed food. However, the effect of an highly processed food diet on gingival tissues health has not been fully investigated. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess the impact of ultra-processed food consumption on gingival inflammation Primary Objective: To assess the association between ultra-processed food intake and the health of gingival tissues of a University-based cohort of individuals Secondary Objectives: To determine the role of dietary counselling and reduced ultra-processed food consumption on the resolution of gingival inflammation. Trial design The current protocol is designed as single-centre, double-blind, parallel arm, University-based, superiority, clinical trial with a 4-month follow up.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALFull-mouth ultrasonic debridement plus Nutritional counseling

After diagnosis of gingivitis, patients will receive a nutritional counseling focused on ultra-processed foods entails educating individuals about the nutritional content and potential health implications of highly processed food products. They will undergo a session of full-mouth ultrasonic debridement and reinforcment of dietary counseling. Between consecutive time points, patients will receive motivational emails.

After diagnosis of gingivitis, patients will receive a session of full mouth ultrasonic debridement

Sponsors

University of Siena
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* 18 - 40 years of age. * Non-smokers (never smokers or former smokers for at least 6 months). * Presence of FMBS \>= 10% * No interproximal attachment loss of ≥3 mm in ≥2 non-adjacent teeth

Exclusion criteria

* Carious lesions and/or inadequate restorations. * Subjects currently undergoing orthodontic therapy or wearing occlusal bite guards. * Subjects suffering any systemic disease or condition which may affect the response of gingival tissues or the ability to perform adequate plaque control (pregnancy, diabetes, quantitative and/or qualitative polymorphonuclear neutrophils defects, other immune system disorders, etc.) * Subjects taking medications that could interfere with the gingival tissues response (i.e. anti-inflammatory agents, diphenylhydantoin, calcium channel blockers, cyclosporin A, immunostimulants/immunomodulators)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Full Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS)Full Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS) collected six sites per tooth, full mouth, will be recorded by a calibrated and blinded examiner at the baseline visit (T0), at two months (T2) and follwing active treatment, at 4 months (T4)Evaluate the effect of Nutritional Counseling on gingival bleeding

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026