Salivary antioxidants and physicochemical characteristics related to dental caries experience among a group of old adults

Abstract EN

Background : Old adults are regarded as an important target group with special oral health needs.

Salivary gland structure and saliva composition particularly the antioxidants are subjected to significant changes with advancing age.

The aims of this study were to assess salivary antioxidants and lipid peroxidation biomarker (malondialdehyde( levels in addition to salivary physicochemical characteristics and their effect on dental caries among a group of old adults in comparison with middle-aged.

Materials and methods : The study group consisted of all old adults (35 subjects) aged 55-65 years in comparison with all middle-aged (35 subjects) aged 30-40 years at the Textile factory in Mosul city who fitted the criteria of the study.

Dental caries was recorded through the application of D1-4 MFS index.

Plaque and calculus indices were used for recording oral cleanliness.

Unstimulated salivary samples were collected and salivary flow rate and pH were determined.

Salivary samples then were chemically analyzed for the detection of salivary antioxidants (total protein, albumin, vitamin E, vitamin C and uric acid) and lipid peroxidation biomarker (malondialdehyde) in addition to salivary constituents as urea, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium.

Results : Salivary antioxidants level (total protein, albumin, vitamin E, and vitamin C) was lower among old adults compared to middle-aged ones with significant difference for vitamin C only.

Malondialdehyde was slightly higher among old adults with no significant difference.

Statistically no significant difference could be found regarding salivary flow rate and pH between the two age groups.

Also salivary constituents (urea, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium) showed no significant difference between the two age groups.

Caries experience (DMFS) was highly significantly higher among old adults (28.71 ± 9.15) compared with middle-aged (20.68 ± 8.53).

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed inverse highly significant β coefficient for vitamin E and salivary flow rate on DS among old adults.

Conclusion : Dental caries revealed higher severity among old adults.

Salivary antioxidants and physicochemical characteristics were found to affect dental caries experience among old adults.