PERIODONTITIS-INDUCED CHANGES TO VITAMIN E LEVELS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE HEART, LIVER AND BRAIN IN AN EXPERIMENTAL RAT MODEL

Background: In our study, we observed how periodontitis changes the vitamin E levels of the heart, liver and brain due to free radicals and their effects. The main problem of periodontitis is the increasing of free radicals and their subsequent metastatic impact on multiple organs via the bloodstream from the periodontium. Materials and methods: Two randomized groups were prepared between 18 Wistar albino rats. The rats weighed 200 ± 20 g and were male. Group C was the control group (n = 8) and group P was the periodontitis group (n = 10), induced using a 3-0 silk ligature at 14 days. The heart, liver and brain were dissected from the body to assess how they were affected by periodontitis. As such, we investigated the vitamin E levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the heart, liver and brain affected by experimental periodontitis. Results: Serious alveolar bone resorption was observed in the periodontitis group when compared to the control group. As an oxidative stressor, MDA levels were very high in the heart, liver and brain tissues of the periodontitis group. The antioxidant vitamin E showed decreasing potential, conversely to MDA. All of the results significantly differed (p ˂ 0.001). Conclusion: Periodontitis stimulates an oxidative stress attack in different organs in an experimental periodontitis model. The balance between oxidants and antioxidants is very important for health, though this balance might diminish in oxidants due to the oxidative attacks triggered by periodontitis. However, other scientific studies must be conducted to confirm this.