Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Tai Chi on biological markers of oxidative stress in saliva and its relationship with periodontal disease (PD) in older adults. We carried out a quasi-experimental study with a sample of 71 sedentary volunteers with PD who were divided into a control group of 34 subjects and an experimental group of 37 subjects who performed Tai Chi 5 days a week for a period of 6 months. PD status was characterized using the Periodontal Disease Index (PDI). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant status (TAS), and TBARS levels of both groups were measured by spectrophotometric methods. In addition, inflammation markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were measured by flow cytometry. We found a statistically significant increase in SOD activity (P < 0.001) and TAS concentration (P < 0.05), whereas levels of IL-1β were significantly lower (P < 0.01). Likewise, a statistically significant decrease in the PDI (P < 0.05) was observed in subjects who performed Tai Chi during a period of 6 months. Our findings suggest that the practice of Tai Chi has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that are linked to the improvement of PD in older adults.
Highlights
We carried out a quasi-experimental study with a sample of 71 sedentary volunteers with periodontal disease (PD) who were divided into a control group of 34 subjects and an experimental group of 37 subjects who performed Tai Chi 5 days a week for a period of 6 months
Our findings suggest that the practice of Tai Chi has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that are linked to the improvement of PD in older adults
Tai Chi (TC) is a traditional Chinese exercise linked to martial arts that has been shown to have a positive effect on aerobic capacity, muscle strength, balance, and motor control [1]
Summary
Tai Chi (TC) is a traditional Chinese exercise linked to martial arts that has been shown to have a positive effect on aerobic capacity, muscle strength, balance, and motor control [1]. Unlike many exercises that are characterized by muscle strength and effort, TC movements are slow, soft, and lightweight [1,2,3]. The practice of TC has been promoted in the elderly population due to its beneficial health effects, including, among others, the prevention of falls, osteoporosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as well as rheumatological and neurological disorders [2, 5, 6]. Our research group has shown that regular practice of TC increases superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant status in the serum of the elderly [7, 8]. Periodontal disease (PD) is one of the major chronic oral diseases in the elderly and is characterized by a destructive inflammatory
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