At last month's 35th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), scientists from Université Laval, Quebec, reported on their results from an investigation into the role of red-wine polyphenols in potentially helping prevent periodontal diseases.
The researchers also studied the relationship between polyphenols and macrophages, phagocytes in the immune system that act on waste, foreign bodies and harmful microorganisms in the bloodstream. When macrophages attack bacteria related to gum disease, they emit chemicals that "may be involved in tissue and bone destruction," notes Daniel Grenier, Ph.D., professor of dentistry, Université Laval, one of the researchers on the project.
In their tests, the researchers exposed macrophages from mice to the polyphenols. Then, they exposed those macrophages to bacteria linked to gum disease, where the macrophages released lower levels of waste chemicals than usual. The researchers credited the antioxidant effect of the polyphenols for this change.
Fatiha Chandad, Ph.D., author of the paper presented at the annual meeting and assistant professor of microbiology, Université Laval, explains that more in-depth studies will be required to help determine how effectively red-wine polyphenols can affect periodontal diseases. However, she notes that other foods high in polyphenols, such as green tea and grapes, have been shown to help fight gum diseases. According to AADR, about 15% of adults between 21 and 50 and 65% of adults over 50 suffer from periodontis.
Polyphenols, which act as antioxidants, are natural plant chemicals responsible for the pigment of a range of fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants bind with and destroy free radicals, which contribute to oxidative damage to cells and biochemicals. Immune cells generate free radicals in people suffering from periodontitis. AADR notes that minimizing free-radical levels is an important factor in maintaining healthy gums.
Besides grapes, other foods that contain polyphenols include apples, blueberries, cocoa, cranberries, onions, pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, green and white tea, and some types of nuts, such as peanuts and almonds.