G.eneral H.ealth
Red wine may help gum disease?
By David Liu Ph.D.
Mar 11, 2006, 18:54

Red wine polyphenols may help fight gum disease, according to two Canadian studies presented this weekend at the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) annual meeting, in Orlando, Florida.

But people should not rush to drink red wine to prevent gum disease. At least, there has been no evidence to justify such an approach.

One study, by V. Houde and colleagues from Universite Laval in Canada, polyphenols from red wine have potent a ntioxidant properties and confirmed that red wine has the potential beneficial effects on oxidative stress or free radials mediated by b acteria that cause gum disease.

The second study, by M. Boisvert and colleagues from the same university, found polyphenols at varied levels exert varied effects on phagocytosis, killing of bacteria and free radials, which are associated with gum disease, indicating polyphenols do not have the same effect on all b acteria.

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a dental disorder involving inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth. As estimated, 70 percent of American adults suffer this disease and 20 to 30 percent of them face the risk of tooth loss because of gum disease.

A natural i mmune response to kill the gum-disease causing b acteria is called phagocytosis which releases free radials. Free radials are believed to be at least partly responsible for the development of gum disease. Red wine polyphenols as a ntioxidants help reduce the oxidative stress from free radials. That is why, many news outlets quickly, but incorrectly labeled red wine as a potential preventative against gum disease.

Red wine has been linked with many health benefits. But experts warn that no evidence suggests drinking red wine could prevent or treat gum disease. These two studies were carried out in test tubes with polyphenols isolated from red wine, grape seeds or other sources. A couple of phenolic compounds are commercially available.

In contradiction to the assumed protective effect of red wine against periodontitis, it's been reported that professional wine tasters were more likely to have dental disease. Experts believed the adverse effects may be largely due to the presence of acids in (red) wine. Additionally, many compounds in red wine may discolor the natural color of teeth.

Red wine as an a lcoholic b everage may not be recommended for now as a therapeutic treatment or preventative measure for any conditions including gum disease. Alcoholic beverages are officially recognized by the US government as a human cancer-causing agent.


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