The evaluation of saliva oxidative and antioxidative markers' levels in adolescents with gingival inflammation

Abstract

Periodontal disease is highly prevalent and affects 10%–15% of the world population. Salivary markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status represent promising tool for research of oral diseases. Given the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, the aim of this study was to determine the association between oxidative stress parameters and periodontal disease gingivitis in adolescents. The study included a consecutive sample of 80 male and female participants referred to the Institute of Dentistry, Kragujevac, Serbia, as a result of periodontal problems or for routine control, aged 18 to 21, with definitive dentition as an inclusion criterion. Patients were divided into three groups depending on their gingival inflammation status. The first group was control group (n=20) with no gingival inflammation, the second group was with mild gingival inflammation (n=19), the third group was with moderate gingival inflammation (n=21) and the fourth group was with severe gingival inflammation (n=20). Oxidative stress parameters were measured in unstimulated whole saliva samples (superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, index of lipid peroxidation, reduced gluthatione, catalase and superoxide dismutase). We have found increased levels of hydrogen peroxide and reduced glutathione in the saliva of patients with moderate levels of gingival inflammation, while the other markers were not significantly affected. In conclusion, oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis and the determination of oxidative and antioxidative levels could be a potent tool in controlling the development of gingivitis.