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VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 4 ( April, 2023 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Salivary Cathelicidins (LL-37) as a Dental Caries Biomarker in Relation to Nutrition Status among a Group of Adolescents

Sarah H Yousif, Alhan A Qasim

Keywords : Adolescents, Cathelicidins, Comparative study, Dental Caries, Nutrition

Citation Information : Yousif SH, Qasim AA. Salivary Cathelicidins (LL-37) as a Dental Caries Biomarker in Relation to Nutrition Status among a Group of Adolescents. World J Dent 2023; 14 (4):352-358.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-2223

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 02-06-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: The study investigated salivary cathelicidins (LL-37) as a biomarker for dental caries in relation to nutritional status among a sample of adolescents. Materials and methods: The current study is an observational (comparative study) with (90) 15-year-old male and female adolescents. The participants were split into two groups—60 who had previously suffered from caries (the study group) and 30 who had not (the control group). Adolescents with various caries experiences were divided into two groups, according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines from 2013. A total of 30 had moderate (1_3) carious teeth and 30 had severe (DT >10) carious teeth. To quantify caries experience, the decayed, missing, and filled (DMFT) index was used. An unstimulated salivary sample was collected for analysis of cathelicidins, salivary flow rate (SFR), and salivary pH. Assessment of nutritional status by measurement of weight and height and using body mass index (BMI). Adolescents were classified as healthy, at risk of being overweight, or overweight based on their BMI. Results: Salivary cathelicidin levels decrease with caries severity and are significantly different in healthy weight groups and the entire sample. It increased within nutritional status and differed significantly within the severe caries group and the overall sample. Salivary cathelicidin has a weekly negative but not significant correlation with salivary pH and flow rate in nutritional status and caries severity groups, except in the mild caries group where it is strongly negatively correlated with SFR, and with the exception of the healthy weight group with SFR, the risk overweight group, and the overweight group with salivary pH. Conclusion: Salivary cathelicidin protects against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, hence its level decreases with caries severity. Nutritional status enhances salivary cathelicidin, especially in severe caries. Nutrition and dental caries affect salivary cathelicidin levels. Clinical significance: A substantial percentage of adolescents in Baghdad had severe caries teeth. To improve teenage oral health, public health dentists should create and implement prevention programs. Nutritional status is linked to dental caries. Thus, community-wide initiatives can prevent dental caries and obesity. To prevent dental cavities and obesity, promote healthy eating habits.

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