ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION INDEX IN THE SALIVARY FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC GENERALIZED PERIODONTITIS, OSTEOPENIA, AND OSTEOPOROSIS UNDER A THERAPEUTIC- PROPHYLACTIC REGIMEN

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a pivotal element in the pathogenesis of chronic generalized periodontitis. Its impact is exacerbated when accompanied by osteopenia or osteoporosis, conditions in which systemic bone loss intensifies periodontal destruction. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of a newly developed therapeutic- prophylactic drug complex on the salivary antioxidant– prooxidant index (API) in this patient cohort. Materials and methods. Twenty-five individuals aged 25–55 years were examined. Group 1 comprised somatically healthy participants (n = 10). Group 2 consisted of patients with periodontitis and osteopenia/osteoporosis receiving standard protocol-based therapy (n = 12). Group 3 included comparable patients who, in addition to standard care, received the therapeutic-prophylactic complex (n = 13).API was measured at baseline, 3 months, 8 months, 1.5 years, and 2 years. Statistical evaluation employed the Student’s t-test, with significance set at p < 0.01. Research results. Baseline API values in both study groups were significantly lower than normative levels (p < 0.001). No significant improvements were observed in the comparison group throughout the follow-up period. In contrast, API in the intervention group increased 2- to 4.4-fold by month 8 and remained twice as high as the comparison group after 2 years (p < 0.001). Conclusions. In patients with chronic generalized periodontitis burdened with osteopenia/osteoporosis, the antioxidant-prooxidant index (API) in the oral fluid at the time of inclusion in the study was significantly reduced by 3.9-5.1 times compared with somatically healthy individuals, which reflects a pronounced oxidative imbalance. Basic antibacterial-anti- inflammatory therapy according to the protocol did not lead to a significant restoration of antioxidant protection: during two years of follow-up, the API values in the comparison group remained at the baseline level (p> 0.7).The therapeutic-prophylactic complex effectively restored the salivary antioxidant balance, potentially slowing the progression of periodontitis in patients with concomitant metabolic bone disorders.