Influence of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on experimental tooth movement in rats.

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on experimental tooth movement. This acid substantially reduces the production of arachidonic acid. Sixty 4-week-old male Wistar strain rats were divided into experimental and control groups. Animals in the experimental group were fed a purified diet containing 10% refined fish oil (rich in n-3 fatty acid); control animals were fed a diet containing 10% corn oil (rich in n-6 fatty acid). After 6 weeks, the maxillary first molars were moved buccally with an initial force of 20 g for periods of 0, 3, 7, or 14 days. Tooth movement in the experimental group was 80% of that seen in the controls. The number of osteoclasts on the pressure side during tooth movement was nearly 60% of that seen in controls, and the degree of bone resorption was 80%. The data suggest that a diet enriched with fish oil reduces osteoclastic activity and subsequent alveolar bone resorption that is the key to experimental tooth movement.