Aim:
The aim of this study was to determine if the supplementation with two formulations of encapsulated juice powder concentrates, along with standard non-surgical periodontal treatment, could improve 2-month treatment outcomes for patients with periodontitis.
Methods:
This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tracked gum health in 61 healthy non-smoking volunteers with periodontitis. The participants, aged 30 to 60, were randomized to take either an encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrate (FV; Juice Plus+®), an encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry juice powder concentrate (FVB; Juice Plus+®), or placebo capsules for nine months. All participants underwent plaque and tartar removal during the first month of the study. Researchers measured several indicators of gum health before treatment began and at 3, 6 and 9 months after the start of supplementation. Primary outcome measures were reductions in mean probing pocket depth (PPD) and % sites bleeding on probing (BOP), as well as mean increase in clinical attachment level (CAL) at the 3-month visit.
Results:
All groups experienced improvements in gum health and comfort after 3 months. Reductions in PPD were significantly greater for the FV group than the placebo group, although not for the FVB group. At all timepoints, both supplementation groups had significantly greater gains in CAL compared to baseline, while CAL gains only reached significance over baseline at 6 months in the placebo group. All 3 groups had significant reductions in % of sites bleeding on probing, while the FV group experienced significant additional reductions at 6 months.
Conclusion:
We conclude that adjunctive daily supplementation with an encapsulated FV juice powder concentrate, during non-surgical periodontal therapy, appears to offer additional initial pocket depth reductions, and subsequent additional improvement in bleeding on probing and plaque scores even in high responders to conventional therapy and in those who are not nutritionally compromised.
PubMed link: