ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of pretreatment for three days with a fatty acid mixture with high ω-9:ω-6 ratio and low ω-6:ω-3 ratio on rats submitted to dental extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats (270-310g) were randomly distributed in four groups (n=8/group): the sham control group and the negative control group received saline; the high omega-6/low omega-9 group received isolipid fatty acid with high ω-6:ω-3 ratio and low ω-9:ω-6 ratio; the high omega-3/low omega-6 group received fatty acid with low ω-6:ω-3 ratio and high ω-9:ω-6 ratio. Saline and oils were administered by gavage for 4days before exodontia and 3days after surgery, followed by euthanasia. Masseter edema was evaluated clinically and tissue samples were submitted to osteoclast count (H&E), myeloperoxidase assay, and western blotting (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta). RESULTS: In the high omega-3/low omega-6 group, a significant decrease was observed in masseter edema (p<0.0001), myeloperoxidase (p<0.0001), osteoclasts (p=0.0001) and TNF-α expression (p<0.0001), but not in IL-1ß expression. CONCLUSION: The ingestion of fatty acid with high ω-9:ω-6 ratio and low ω-6:ω-3 ratio significantly reduced inflammatory response in rats submitted to dental extraction.