Background: Recent data have demonstrated increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and oxidative stress in periodontitis. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are both increased during oxidative stress. Furthermore, this study examined SOD concentration, total oxidative status (TOS) and MDA levels in periodontal patients and investigated the longitudinal effect of periodontal therapy on the index levels of chronic periodontitis (CP) patients.
Methods: Serum, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were obtained from 48 CP patients and 35 healthy control subjects prior to, as well as after 16 weeks following non-surgical post-periodontal therapy. MDA, TOS and SOD and clinical parameters were determined pre- and post-therapy.
Results: The levels of TOS and SOD values were significantly higher in the CP group than in the control group (p < 0.05), but only MDA in GCF. Post-periodontal therapy, serum, saliva and GCF TOS and SOD levels significantly decreased compared to basal levels (p < 0.05), but only MDA in GCF.
Conclusions: LPO was higher in the periodontal region, with TOS and SOD increasing both locally and peripherally. Non-surgical therapy can restore and control the subject antioxidant capacity by locally and systemically modifying the levels of MDA, TOS and SOD.