Selected Salivary Antioxidants and Caries Experience among a Group of Obese Females Aged 20-22 years

Background Obesity and dental caries are diseases of multifactorial etiology. Their development is affected by nutritional factors. The aim of this study was the assessment of selected salivary antioxidants and dental caries among a group of obese females aged 20-22 years in comparison with normal weight females. Materials and methods The total sample composed of 80 females with an age range 20-22 years old. Body weight was assessed using the Body Mass Index (BMI). Collection of unstimulated salivary samples was carried out under standardized conditions. Salivary flow rate was measured then salivary samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of salivary antioxidants (total protein and uric acid). The diagnosis and recording of dental caries was carried out through the application of DMFS according to criteria of Manji et al (1989). Data analysis was conducted by application of SPSS program (SPSS version 18). Results Salivary analysis demonstrated that the level of salivary total protein was lower among obese females compared to the normal weight females with statistically highly significant difference (pless than0.01), while salivary uric acid was statistically highly significantly higher among the obese than the normal weight females (pless than0.01). Salivary flow rate was statistically highly significantly higher among the obese than the normal weight females (pless than0.01). The data analysis of the present study found that the caries experience (DMFS) was lower among the obese compared to the normal weight females with statistically highly significant difference (pless than0.01). Conclusion The results of this research revealed that salivary antioxidant (uric acid) and salivary flow rate were higher among obese females than normal weight females which may play a role in protection oral tissue from oral diseases. Obesity, dental caries, salivary antioxidants, salivary flow rate.