Increased activity of the antioxidants systems modulate the oxidative stress in saliva of toddlers with early childhood caries.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress levels and the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems in saliva of toddlers with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC).


METHODS
Unstimulated saliva samples were collected at the morning from 0 to 3 year-old S-ECC (n=30) or caries-free (CF) children (n=30/group) for evaluation of oxidative stress (OS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which were measured by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, as well as to assess the activity of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, SOD) and non-enzymatic (uric acid, UA) antioxidant systems, respectively. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test (p<0.05).


RESULTS
Significantly higher protein levels were observed in saliva of S-ECC children (0.083mg/mL) than in the CF group (0.070mg/mL). Oxidative damage was significantly lower in saliva of S-ECC children (0.0019μmol/L/mg protein) than in CF children (0.0039μmol/L/mg protein), while salivary TAC (61.5μmol/L), SOD activity (36.6 UE/mL) and uric acid (7.05mg/mL) were significantly higher in saliva of S-ECC when compared to the CF group (49.1μmol/L, 26.8 UE/mL and 5.02mg/mL, respectively for TAC, SOD and UA).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress levels were significantly lower in saliva of S-ECC children, what might be associated with the increased activity of salivary enzymatic (SOD) and non-enzymatic (uric acid) antioxidant systems.
Graduate Program in Dental Science, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Public Heatlh, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Priscila Vieira da
PVD
Silva
Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Basic Sciences, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jéssica Antonini
JA
Troiano
Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Basic Sciences, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana Cláudia M S
ACMS
Nakamune
Graduate Program in Dental Science, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Public Heatlh, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Juliano Pelim
JP
Pessan
Graduate Program in Dental Science, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Basic Sciences, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua José Bonifácio, 1193, Vila Mendonça, 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: crisant@foa.unesp.br.
Cristina
C
Antoniali
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D014527:Uric Acid; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
Children; Dental caries; Oxidative stress; Saliva; Superoxide dismutase; Uric acid