"Remodelling of alveolar bone involves interaction between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts, under the influence of osteotropic hormones (vitamin D3, PTH and retinoic acid), produce MMPs which appear to function in the removal of soft tissue that precludes access of osteoclasts to the mineralized tissue surface.... Although there is strong evidence for the involvement of MMPs in the resorption of bone and in the inflammation-mediated destruction of periodontal tissues, the role of MMPs in the remodelling of mature soft connective tissues remains equivocal."Sodek J, Overall CM. Matrix metalloproteinases in periodontal tissue remodelling. Matrix Suppl. 1992;1:352-62. Review. PMID: 1480060
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Boyd LD, Lampi KJ. Importance of nutrition for optimum health of the periodontium. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2001 May 15;2(2):36-45. Review. PMID: 12167932 Link HERE *good review*
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Figure. Activation mechanisms of MMP-2. The full-length MMP-2 can be activated in two ways. Proteolytic activation of MMP-2 by MT1-MMP/TIMP or by other proteases occurs by removal of the autoinhibitory propeptide domain (left arrow) resulting in an active truncated MMP-2. The presence of oxidative stress (ONOO-) and cellular glutathione (GSH) causes the S-gluathiolation of the critical cysteine residue in the propeptide domain, disrupting its binding to the catalytic Zn2+ ion, resulting in an active full-length enzyme. MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; ONOO-, peroxynitrite; TIMP, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase. Chow AK, et al. Acute actions and novel targets of matrix metalloproteinases in the heart and vasculature. Br J Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;152(2):189-205.
Recently we moved and lost our housekeepers. I've been in the double-dog dumps ever since... So to say the cleaning of the house has been neglected is a very grave understatement. Last week I devoted an inordinate amount of time scouring the calcium deposits off all the toilets in the house... it took so long so I had a long time to think. Why (??!) did I wait so long? Why did I let this thing go?? The work was so much harder and and tougher than had I just kept up with routine maintenance weekly. Right? (Also have spent time weighing the benefits of hiring professionals again) My girlfriends love using CLR (above ad) but I hesitate using such a strong cleaning solvent on the toilets not just for the environmental impact but also the corrosive effects on the pipes (not withstanding other effects such as melting my corneas and the first 2 layers of my skin -- rubber gloves are mandatory).
As I was really getting into the scrubbing and facing the challenge of getting back an immaculate white and tidy bowl, I thought is this what my nazi-Dental Hygienist thinks every time she sees me as she sharpens her metal instruments for scraping tartar and plaque off the teeth? A few years ago I was diagnosed with gum disease with pockets of '4' and '5' and told that implants and antibiotic treatment et cetera might be required some day. When you have periodontal disease, extra cleanings (btw are NOT covered by insurance) and deep scaling/root planing (yes it's as nasty as it sounds) are required to control plaque with the hopes of reducing inflammation and further damage. Gum disease actually involves similar processes that atherosclerosis/heart disease involves, including destruction by excessive MMPs. On the surface of atherosclerotic plaques in our blood vessels, MMPs are found. Destabilization of plaque has been related to overactivity of MMPs. The above article demonstrates the value of vitamin D3 and vitamin A (retinoic acid) and PTH in ameliorating gum disease and correcting the balance between building (osteoblastic activity) and cutting (osteoclastic activity) of our mature gum soft tissues. Interestingly these agents, Vitamins D3 and A, also have incredible plaque-busting benefits in the Track Your Plaque program for CAD regression and eradication. Dr. Davis demonstrated the value of Vitamin D3 in shrinking plaque in coronary arterties and heart disease reversal.
My gum disease now has reversed. I've attributed all the benefits to a low-inflammatory diet (ie rich in good oils, protein, veggies and low low carb), exercise, A-N-D vitamins D3, A and high dose EPA + DHA fish oil. At the end of sumer last year, surprisingly, my lab 25(OH)D3 was extremely low (after being in the sun daily for hours with the kids at the pool). Correction of vitamin D deficiency was one component of improving periodontal disease (obtaining blood levels of 50-60 ng/ml). Happily, at my last visit to the dentist, my gums were given a clean bill of health. Nearly all the pockets were '3's and a few '4's now. The '5's had disappeared and I was told I could return to a normal bi-annual cleaning schedule again (and no more out-of-pocket cleanings). The throbbing that I once felt in the gums are gone too.
Other MMP inhibitors include Doxycline (part of the tetracycline family of drugs). It is a prescription drug which is used in the treatment of periodontal disease and gingival inflammation but has also demonstrated some value in atherosclerosis and preventing heart failure remodeling. PERIOSTAT is a brandname Doxycline indicated by the FDA for treatment of gum disease.
I wish I could stick vitamin D in all my toilets everyday... *heh*
Rickets -- a profound vitamin D deficiency condition which frequently involves signficant dental disease (because vitamin D plays a vital role in calcification of teeth and remodeling of soft gum tissues).
Acta Paediatr Jpn. 1997 Aug;39(4):499-502. Review. PMID: 9316300
Dental insurances allow one extra covered dental cleaning during pregnancy. Studies show that the pregnancy-state increases the risk of periodontal disease (likely secondary to cortisol, inflammation, insulin? vitamin D and EPA/DHA deficiency? I would presume). Prevention with an extra cleaning is therefore now advocated. Isn't that interesting? Pregnancy may significantly deplete vitamin D stores (unless replenished) -- in order to construct enough progesterone and estrogen which are also steroidal hormones for supporting the pregnant state. Both pregnancy and lactation also reduce the mother's stores of EPA+DHA in her brain and heart in order to supply the growing fetus/baby's brain and heart. Did you know that a baby's brain is 70% of its birth weight? And did you know that breastmilk is a rich source of 'fish oil' EPA + DHA !
This researcher believes that maternal imprinting can affect CAD risk later in life. By not consuming enough good oils during conception and pregnancy, are we affecting our children later in life? He strongly believes fish oil may protect and even prevent CAD and diabetes in children when maternal EPA and DHA are adequately provided.
The evaluation of the clinical condition of periodontium by means of the epidemiological indexes and the level of oral hygiene in two weeks intervals in the course of physiological pregnancy in 39 women in good general health revealed the maximum of inflammatory changes of periodontium in the 8th month of pregnancy with the amelioration shortly before delivery. Simultaneous follow-up of the physiological levels of vitamin E and A in four weeks intervals showed the decline of the mean levels of both vitamins in the course of the 8th month and their marked elevation shortly before delivery; therefore remains questionable, if this elevation reaching over their physiological range, contributes to the amelioration of the condition of periodontium observed at the same time. PMID: 2150274
Phenytoin is a drug that increases the liver metabolism of certain drugs and hormones, including Vitamin D and Vitamin A. Seizure and other individuals taking Phenytoin can be at risk not only for osteoporosis but also gum disease (and heart disease and many over conditions) due to subsequently low vitamin D levels. (Isotretinoin is a synthetic vitamin A)
Vitamin A is also helpful for reversing gum disease in a condition called Papilon-Lefevre syndrome.
When I think about inflammation and the crucial role fish oil plays in maintaining healthy hearts and minds.... I am not shocked to find out it also regulates healthy gums and oral health. Friends on the TYP forum on the other hand will be shocked that I've reduced my dose of fish oil (slightly) since our family started drinking grass-raised cow milk which is rich in EPA+DHA, CLA, vitamins A D3 E and K2. I love fish oil for all its amazing benefits. Here is more evidence for its healing properties on gingival inflammation (and the hypothesized relationship with vascular inflammation).
Hamazaki K, et al. Med Hypotheses. 2006;67(4):868-70.
Competing at several steps of arachidonic acid metabolism, n-3 fatty acids reduce production of highly active prostaglandins and leukotrienes and exert anti-inflammatory effects. They are also experimentally shown to be anti-osteoporotic. Periodontitis is responsible for most tooth loss in adult populations. If enough n-3 fatty acids are provided, periodontitis with alveolar bone resorption may be controlled, and tooth loss may be prevented. In fact, n-3 fatty acid administration lowered prostaglandin E(2) production, tooth movement and alveolar bone resorption in animal experiments. Aggression, which may be related with tooth loss, was also controlled with fish oil. Our cross-sectional data supported our hypothesis. We recruited 256 men (22-59 y of age) and 95 women (22-66 y), counted the numbers of their remaining teeth, and analyzed the fatty acid composition of the total phospholipid fraction of RBCs. The beta-coefficient of the numbers of remaining teeth and EPA concentrations in the fraction was 0.89 (per 1% EPA, p=0.007) after adjustment for 9 possible confounding factors. Long-term intervention studies with fish oil planned in the future should be able to test our hypothesis by just adding another very simple endpoint in those studies: tooth loss during the intervention period. This hypothesis may explain the linkage between periodontitis/tooth loss and coronary heart disease. PMID: 16759817
Nutritional factors play the same important roles in parallel organs in our body. Perhaps proper vitamins/food and fish oil everyday will not only keep the doctor away...
But also my nazi-hygienist! :)
If only the same were true for all other types of housekeeping.
(Thanks go out to Mr.California for his super-RICH ideas. You deserve an 'S' emblazoned on your chest for sharing your fascinating cardiovascular-related thoughts and insights.)
