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A randomized controlled clinical study of the effect of daily intake of Ascophyllum nodosum alga on calculus, plaque, and gingivitis

Springer Nature
Clinical Oral Investigations
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Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate, in a randomized controlled cross-over study, the effect of daily intake of the alga Ascophyllum nodosum on supragingival calculus, plaque formation, and gingival health over a 6-month period. Material and methods Sixty-one adults with moderate to heavy calculus formation since their last yearly recall visit participated. In a randomized order over two 6-month periods, they swallowed two capsules daily, comprising a total of 500 mg dried marine alga powder (Ascophyllum nodosum, ProDen PlaqueOff®) or two negative control tablets. During the study, the participants maintained their regular oral habits. Their teeth were professionally cleaned at the start of each period and after the 6-month registrations. A wash out period of 1 month separated the two 6-month periods. Supragingival calculus (Volpe Manhold), gingivitis (Löe and Silness), gingival bleeding (Ainamo and Bay), and plaque (Quigley-Hein) were registered at screening and at the end of the two periods. Differences in oral health between the test and control periods were analyzed using a paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results Fifty-five participants completed the study. After the alga intake, the mean calculus reduction was 52 % compared to the control (p
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... Controlled studies performed by two different research groups demonstrated a positive effect of this product in plaque and calculus reduction in dogs and cats, as well as improvements in oral health (19,20); however, these studies were not double-blind nor randomized. In humans, the effectiveness of an A. nodosum-based supplement was evaluated in a randomized controlled study; the results indicated significantly reduced plaque, calculus, and gingivitis indices (21). ...
... One passive method of periodontal disease prevention is the oral administration of supplements containing the brown algae, A. nodosum, which is reported to improve OHI in dogs, cats (14), and humans (21). While the mechanism of action for this product is unknown, it has been shown to assist host immune function. ...
... The results of this study suggest that A. nodosum-containing supplements, used as a passive mode of oral hygiene in the form of dry kibble, have beneficial properties. A. nodosum has been shown to reduce plaque by up to 87% and calculus by up to 68% in humans (21); however, its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. A. nodosum is rich in natural compounds (41) that are postulated to interfere with bacterial growth and accumulation. ...
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The objective of this placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study (designed according to evidence based medicine standards) was to determine the effect of 90-day administration of edible treats containing the brown algae, Ascophyllum nodosum, on plaque and dental calculus accumulation on the teeth of dogs, as well as on other parameters characterizing canine oral health status, including: plaque index (PI), calculus index (CI), oral health index (OHI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and volatile sulfur compound (VSC) concentration. Sixty client-owned dogs, including Japanese chin, miniature Schnauzer, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and West Highland White Terrier (WHWT) breeds, underwent professional dental cleaning and were randomly subdivided into two groups receiving daily edible treats containing the brown algae A. nodosum, or placebo, adjusted to their bodyweight. After a comprehensive oral health assessment, including a professional dental cleaning, which were both performed under general anesthesia, clinical assessments of PI, CI, OHI, GBI, and VSC concentration were performed under sedation after 30, 60, and 90 days of treatment. Oral administration of edible treats containing A. nodosum significantly improved PI, CI, and VSC concentration, compared with the placebo-treated group. The consumption of edible treats containing A. nodosum efficiently decreased plaque and calculus accumulation in the investigated dogs. Dogs treated with A. nodosum also exhibited significantly lower concentrations of VSC and better oral health status (e.g., OHI and GBI) than those in the placebo-control group.
... The reduction on plaque formation and gingival bleeding was also observed. Similar calculus-reducing effect was also observed in beagle dogs (van Dijken et al. 2015). Unfortunately, the exact mechanism of these effects remains unclear. ...
... These compounds have a high affinity to tooth surfaces and compete for the same adsorption sites (i.e. calcium ions) on hydroxyapatite as salivary acidic proteins and thus block nucleation and crystallization sites (van Dijken et al. 2015). In order to evaluate the potential systemic action of Ascophyllum nodosum and its ability to modify saliva composition, our team analyzed the salivary metabolome in dogs administered Ascophyllum nodosum. ...
... Additional studies are currently being conducted in cats. In humans ingesting the algae significantly reduced the formation of supragingival calculus and plaque, and the occurrence of gingival bleeding (4). ...
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