Role of Dietary habits, antioxidants and Lipid profile in Dental caries of smokers

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is a complicated multifactorial disease characterized by demineralization of dental hard tissue (enamel, dentine, and cementum) in both deciduous and permanent teeth (1-4). Dental caries can be prevented and reversed with correct management. The present study aimed to study the role of dietary habits, antioxidants and lipid profile in Dental caries of smokers. Methodology: 5ml of the blood sample was collected from these subjects. A portion of the blood was mixed with EDTA (2mg/ml.) The other portion was used for the preparation of serum. Erythrocytes were isolated from blood samples by adding blood in to tubes containing EDTA Venous blood samples were centrifuged at 1000 x g for 15 min at 4 °C and the plasma was removed The packed erythrocyte pellet was washed three times with an equal volume of sterile 0.9% NaCl. pH = 74 Stock hemolysate was obtained by dilution of packed erythrocytes with distilled water and kept at 4℃. Isolation of the main etiological agent in dental caries Streptococcus mutans was carried out and biochemical characterization was conducted. Its susceptibility to cause dental caries was also checked. Status of Vitamin C. Total antioxidant, iron, MDA and Lipid profile in serum and Erythrocyte SOD activity in case were estimated and compared with the control.

Results: In the present study we found small, round, cream-coloured colonies with smooth margins and glistering surface was obtained on blood agar plate. The microorganism isolated was found to be non motile, non spore and gave purple coloured colonies on gram staining.The microorganisms isolated gave positive results for indole, Methyl red, citrate utilization, nitrate reduction and sugar fermentation test and negative for voges Proskauer and catalase test. This confirms that the isolate is S. mutans, Vitamin C, iron, Total antioxidant,  SOD, HDL,  level was found to be low in case group compared to that of the control, where as MDA, Total Cholesterol, LDL and Triacyglycerides were high in the case group compared to that of the control. ANOVA was performed for multiple comparison which showed statistical significance between the groups.

Conclusion: Dental caries infection causes an increase of free radicals in body moreover in smokers the ROS produced is very high. Low levels of antioxidants and micronutrients in all the case groups indicates the inefficient neutralization of free radicals. This inefficient neutralization results in other harmful effects like increased lipid peroxidation rate and lipid 

profile level alteration. Antioxidant depletion can be treated and its level in the body can be normalized by using adjuvant antioxidant supplementation. Studies can be carried out on S. mutans at genomic level and drugs or gene therapy which diminishes the adverse effects of the microbe in dental caries can be reduced. Dietary habits, smoking habits should be properly maintained to reduce the incidence of dental caries.