Nutrigenomics: An Approach to Understand the Role of Nutrients and Gene Interactions in Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory process that causes periodic destruction of the periodontal attachment apparatus [1]. The advancement of knowledge on the pathogenesis of periodontal destruction and the role of nutrients in it has heightened interest in determining the relationship between periodontal disease and nutrition [2]. It is also critical to understand that genotype and dietary interactions influence periodontal disease risk [3]. Nutrients regulate periodontal health and have a key role in inflammatory and immunological responses [4].

Nutrigenomics focuses on the finding and understanding of molecular-level interactions between nutrients and genomes using genomic methods in nutritional studies [3]. It gives information on the impact of nutritionon metabolic pathways and homeostatic control and allows toknow the disturbances arising in this regulation, at its earliest [5]. This chapter provides a detailed description of role of nutrition in periodontal disease and recommends the daily nutritional intake necessary for prevention of periodontal disease [3].