Background

  Salivary concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) are associated with the periodontal status assessed as papillary bleeding index (PBI). Whether this association is age independent is currently unclear. Salivary concentrations of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have not been assessed in relation to age or oral health yet. The aim of our study was to analyse salivary markers of oxidative stress in dental patients in relation to age, gender and oral health.

 Methods

 Consecutive adult non-smoking dental patients were enrolled (n = 204 aged 19–83 years). PBI and the caries index (CI) were assessed. Markers of oxidative stress, such as TBARS, AOPPs and AGEs, and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in saliva samples taken before clinical examination.

 Results

  Linear regression showed that salivary TBARS, AGEs and TAC significantly increase with age (r squared = 5.3%, 2.1% and 5%, respectively). PBI is an independent predictor of salivary TBARS (r squared = 5.5%), and the CI negatively affected AOPPs (r = 3.2%) and positively affected TBARS (r = 2.5%). Gender did not affect any of the analysed parameters.

 Conclusions

  Age as a significant contributor to the variance should be taken into account in studies focusing on salivary markers of oxidative stress. The relationship between PBI and salivary TBARS confirms results from previous studies. In addition, our results show that the association is age independent. Negative association between the CI and AOPPs might be related to recent findings that AOPP might be actually a marker of non-enzymatic antioxidant status.

 Source: Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine

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