Effect of vitamin E on periodontitis: Evidence and proposed mechanisms of action

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis is a noncommunicable inflammatory disease of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth in the jaw, which affects susceptible individuals with poor oral hygiene. A growing interest has been seen in the use of dietary supplements and natural products for the treatment and prevention of periodontitis. Vitamin E consists of two major groups, namely tocopherols and tocotrienols, which are botanical lipophilic compounds with excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Highlight: This review aimed to summarize the preclinical and clinical findings on the effects of vitamin E on periodontitis. The current literature suggests that vitamin E could improve the periodontal status by correcting redox status imbalance, reducing inflammatory responses, and promoting wound healing, thus highlighting the potential of vitamin E in the management of periodontitis.

Conclusion: Direct evidence for the use of vitamin E supplementation or treatment of periodontitis in humans is still limited. More well-designed and controlled studies are required to ascertain its effectiveness.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Periodontal disease; Tocopherol; Tocotrienol.