Evaluation of antioxidant potential of melatonin in periodontitis: a prospective clinic-biochemical study

Background: The present study was done with an objective to evaluate the effect of melatonin as an antioxidant in patients suffering from periodontitis.Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Periodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni. Patients of chronic periodontitis, of age between 18 to 65 years of either gender ready to give informed consent to participate in the study were included. Postoperative patients, patients having night duties, drivers and those using heavy machinery, pregnant women, lactating mothers, patients with any clinically significant systemic disease and patients on any other drugs were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into three Groups. Group A included patients who underwent SRP (Scaling and Root Planning) alone, Group B included patients who underwent SRP & supplemented with Vitamin E 200 IU daily at night for 4 weeks. Group C included patients who underwent SRP & supplemented with tablet melatonin 3 mg daily at night for 4 weeks. Estimation of Malondialdehyde (MDA) for serum lipid peroxidation8, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was done on day 0, day 30, day 60 and day 90.Results: A total 240 patients were enrolled in the study. It was demonstrated that there was considerable oxidative stress in periodontitis patients, as established by high serum MDA levels, which was reduced significantly by melatonin reflecting its antioxidant potential. Pretreatment levels of SOD and GPx also were low, which were improved with the treatment of melatonin far better than with vitamin E.Conclusions: Melatonin acts as an antioxidant in the patients of periodontitis which has positive effect on biochemical parameters of periodontitis, conferring a new facet to the management of periodontitis and an attempt to impede the disease progression.