Salivary enzymatic antioxidant activity and dental caries: A cross-sectional study.

Zakaria Vahabzadeh,Fatemeh Zamani,Zahra Hashemi,Bijan Nouri,Faranak Shafiee

doi:10.17219/dmp/126179

Zakaria Vahabzadeh, Fatemeh Zamani + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.17219/dmp/126179

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Abstract

Oxidative stress has been identified as a predisposing factor for dental caries. Saliva, as a rich source of antioxidants, plays an essential role in the protection against dental caries. Salivary enzymatic antioxidants include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of salivary enzymatic antioxidant activity with different levels of dental caries in children. In this cross-sectional study, 90 healthy children aged 7-12 years (36 girls, 54 boys) were investigated. Demographic information was gathered and dental examinations were provided for all participants. Then, unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected in the morning. The salivary SOD, CAT and GPx activity was measured spectrophotometrically. For statistical analysis, Spearman's correlation test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used with the SPSS for Windows software, v. 16. Our results showed no significant correlation between SOD, CAT and GPx and the decayed, missing, filled teeth index for permanent/primary dentition (DMFT/dmft). The CAT activity was elevated in proportion to the number of decayed teeth. The SOD activity showed a positive correlation with the frequency of tooth brushing. The activity of SOD, CAT and GPx was higher in boys than in girls. An inverse relationship between enzymatic antioxidant activity and age was also observed. Although enzymatic antioxidants had no positive correlation with DMFT/dmft, they were positively correlated with the number of decayed teeth and the improvement of oral hygiene.

Highlights

Dental caries is a dynamic and continuous process
Our results showed no significant correlation between superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the decayed, missing, filled teeth index for permanent/primary dentition (DMFT/dmft).The CAT activity was elevated in proportion to the number of decayed teeth
Enzymatic antioxidants had no positive correlation with DMFT/dmft, they were positively correlated with the number of decayed teeth and the improvement of oral hygiene

Summary

Introduction

Dental caries is a dynamic and continuous process. It involves repeated cycles of demineralization by the acidic metabolites produced through the fermentation process of dietary carbohydrates of microbial origin, followed by remineralization by salivary components. It is well established that the salivary protective mechanisms control the process of dental caries to a great extent.[1]. Saliva is a heterogeneous liquid and a multifunctional natural defense system. It is a rich source of antioxidants, which play an important role the protection against bacteria, viruses and fungi, with regard to the mucosa and tooth surfaces.[2,3]. As a rich source of antioxidants, plays an essential role in the protection against dental caries. Salivary enzymatic antioxidants include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)

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