Serum fatty acid imbalance in bone loss: example with periodontal disease.

Among the numerous factors of bone remodelling, the local action of arachidonic acid metabolites together with cytokines, is particularly important, especially that of prostaglandin PGE2. It has been suggested that the alveolar bone destruction in periodontal disease and osteoporosis can be treated by reducing the ratio of arachidonic acid in phospholipids, which would diminish prostaglandin production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the main serum polyunsaturated fatty acids and a possible alteration in the level of arachidonic acid in patients suffering from periodontal bone loss. Of the 105 patients who participated the study, 78 were suffering from periodontal bone loss and 27 served as a control group. The fatty acids were measured in serum by gas-chromatography. The results showed that the level of fatty acids of the n-6 pathway was higher in our patients with bone loss than in the control group, whereas the reverse was observed with fatty acids of the n-3 pathway. In conclusion, our patients' bone losses are linked with an imbalance between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, which seems to justify a diet increase in 20- and 22-carbon fatty acids. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.