Oxidative imbalance and anxiety in patients with sleep bruxism

Abstract

We evaluated the relationship among sleep bruxism (SB), antioxidant/oxidant status, and anxiety level to determine whether antioxidant/oxidant status may be used as a biological marker of SB. Thirty-three SB and 32 healthy patients of similar age, sex, and body mass index were enrolled, venous blood was collected, and anxiety scores were determined. Plasma samples were analyzed for total oxidant status, antioxidant status, and oxidative stress index. In 2 of the 3 assays performed, SB patients exhibited an oxidative imbalance. A higher anxiety score was observed with SB (P < 0.05). These results show that oxidant/antioxidant imbalance may be related to SB, either pathophysiologically or as an outcome of the condition. Further biochemical studies could prove useful in determining the importance of antioxidant drugs in the treatment of SB.