Therapeutic effects of alpha lipoic acid and vitamin C on alveolar bone resorption after experimental periodontitis in rats: a biochemical, histochemical, and stereologic study.
BACKGROUND
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and vitamin C (Vit-C) are very important and powerful antioxidants that have been used for the treatment of many diseases. The present study aims to investigate the role of ALA and Vit-C substances in the treatment of alveolar bone resorption in periodontal diseases.


METHODS
Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: 1) control rats; 2) rats with experimental periodontitis (PED); 3) rats with PED treated with ALA (ALA); and 4) rats with PED treated with ALA+Vit-C (ALA+Vit-C). PED was simulated by placing ligatures around the neck of teeth for 5 weeks. After ligature removal, the PED group was given a single intragastric dose of 1 mL saline, and the ALA and ALA+Vit-C groups were treated with an intragastric dose of 50 mg/kg ALA and ALA+Vit-C for 15 days, respectively. Levels of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in gingival tissues were analyzed. To evaluate the osteoclast activation, expression of activated receptor activator nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and bone density index (BDI) were determined stereologically in the bone sections obtained from the mandibles of the rats.


RESULTS
The results showed statistically significant differences between the PED group and groups treated with antioxidant according to B-ALP, MPO, RANKL, and BDI values (P <0.05). ALA and ALA+Vit-C treatments showed beneficial effects on the mesial/distal periodontal bone support at the ligature-induced periodontitis tooth areas.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that ALA and Vit-C treatment provides therapeutic effects on inhibition of alveolar bone resorption and periodontal tissue destruction.
Department of Periodontology, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. akslepios3191@hotmail.com
Sumeyra
S
Akman
Varol
V
Canakci
Adem
A
Kara
Ummuhan
U
Tozoglu
Taner
T
Arabaci
Ilhan Metin
IM
Dagsuyu
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D008297:Male; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D053245:RANK Ligand; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D009195:Peroxidase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid