Selected salivary antioxidants and gingival health condition among a group of obese females aged 20-22 years in Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Obesity and periodontal disease are diseases of multifactorial etiologyclosely related to dietary habits and sociodemographic background of theindividuals. The aim of this study was the assessment of selected salivaryantioxidants and gingival health condition among a group of obese females aged20-22 years in comparison with normal weight females.Materials and methods: The study group included 40 obese females, with an agerange 20-22 years old. The control group included 40 normal weight females ofthe same age. Body weight was assessed by using the Body Mass Index (BMI).Collection of unstimulated salivary samples was carried out under standardizedconditions. Plaque and gingival indices were used for recording the oral hygieneand gingivitis. Salivary flow rate was measured then salivary samples wereanalyzed to determine the concentration of salivary antioxidants (total protein anduric acid).Results: The data analysis of the present study found that the level of salivary totalprotein was lower among the obese females compared to the normal weightfemales with statistically highly significant difference (p<0.01), while salivaryuric acid was statistically highly significantly higher among the obese than thenormal weight females (p<0.01). Salivary analysis demonstrated that the salivaryflow rate was statistically highly significantly higher among the obese females(p<0.01).The mean values of plaque index and gingival index were lower among obesefemales compared to the normal weight females with statistically highlysignificant difference for plaque index (p<0.01).Conclusions: The result of this research revealed that salivary antioxidant (uric acid)and salivary flow rate were higher among obese females than normal weightfemales which may play a role in protection oral tissue from oral diseases inaddition to the oral cleanliness effect.