Evaluation of the Erythrocyte Antioxidant Status in Healthy Controls and Patients with Periodontitis

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of teeth caused by specific microorganisms resulting in progressive destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate any measurable change in antioxidant enzyme status (superoxide dismutase) among healthy controls and patients with periodontitis. Method: A total of forty subjects consisting of twenty test subjects and twenty controls were recruited for this comparative study. The level of superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes were assessed in both test subjects and controls. Results:There was no statistically significant difference between age and gender of Group A and Group B. In Group A there is correlation between age and SOD level and Group B, there was no correlation between the age and SOD levels, body mass index [BMI] and SOD levels.Subjects with periodontitis(Group B) have significantly lower SOD levels when compared with those subjects without periodontitis (Group A).  Conclusion: In the current study,Periodontal disease can be one of the factors for decreased antioxidant enzyme(SOD) in red blood cells.