MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND PERIODONTITIS: LINKS BETWEEN NUTRITION, INFLAMMATION, AND PERIODONTAL HEALTH

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and periodontal health, with particular emphasis on inflammatory modulation and clinical periodontal outcomes. Methodology: A comprehensive narrative synthesis of the scientific literature was conducted, focusing on observational studies, clinical investigations, and experimental research that examined dietary patterns and periodontal parameters. Electronic databases were systematically searched using keywords related to Mediterranean diet, periodontitis, systemic inflammation, and oral health. Studies addressing nutritional components, inflammatory biomarkers, and periodontal clinical indices were included. Data were qualitatively analyzed to identify consistent biological mechanisms and clinical trends linking dietary habits to periodontal health. Results: The Mediterranean diet demonstrated a consistent association with improved periodontal status. Higher adherence to this dietary pattern was correlated with reduced gingival inflammation, lower probing depth, and decreased bleeding on probing. These clinical benefits were accompanied by reduced levels of systemic inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of key dietary components, particularly fruits, vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, and omega-3-rich fish, appear to play a central role in modulating host immune responses and oxidative stress, thereby influencing periodontal tissue stability. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet exerts a protective effect on periodontal health by attenuating systemic and local inflammatory pathways. Incorporating dietary counseling into periodontal prevention and management strategies may represent a valuable adjunctive approach. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to further clarify causality and establish standardized dietary recommendations in periodontal care.