Carious Lesion Severity Induces Higher Antioxidant System Activity and Consequently Reduces Oxidative Damage in Children’s Saliva

• Published in: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity Vol. 2020; no. 2020; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Pessan, Juliano Pelim, Garcia, Wilson Galhego, Nakamune, Ana Cláudia Melo Stevanato, Araujo, Heitor Ceolin, Antoniali, Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2020; Hindawi; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Clinical medicine; Dental caries; Dentists; Disease; Enzymes; Guardians; Oxidative stress; Physiology; Proteins; Superoxide; Uric acid; Brazil
• ISSN: 1942-0900; 1942-0994
• DOI: 10.1155/2020/3695683

Oxidative stress biomarkers can be found at detectable concentrations in saliva. These salivary biomarkers reflect specific oxidation pathways associated with caries and periodontitis. Our study evaluated the influence of dental caries severity (assessed using the ICCMS™ criteria) on the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in saliva from children. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from patients (from one to three years old) in a day care center in Birigui, SP, Brazil, two hours after fasting. Children were divided into four groups (n=30/group), according to caries severity: caries free (group A), early carious lesions (group B), moderate carious lesions (group C), and advanced carious lesions (group D). The following salivary biomarkers were determined: total proteins (TP), measured by the Lowry method; oxidative damage, measured by the TBARS method; total antioxidant capacity (TAC); superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymatic antioxidant activity; and uric acid (UA) non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and multivariable linear regression (p<0.05). TP, TAC, SOD enzymatic antioxidant activity, and UA non-enzymatic antioxidant activity increased with caries severity, consequently reducing salivary oxidative damage. It was concluded that higher caries severity increases salivary antioxidant system activity, with consequent reduction in salivary oxidative damage.