Effect of experimental gingivitis induction and erythritol on the salivary metabolome and functional biochemistry of systemically healthy young adults

Introduction Understanding the changes occurring in the oral ecosystem during development of gingivitis could help improve prevention and treatment strategies for oral health. Erythritol is a non-caloric polyol proposed to have beneficial effects on oral health. Objectives To examine the effect of experimental gingivitis and the effect of erythritol on the salivary metabolome and salivary functional biochemistry. Methods In a two-week experimental gingivitis challenge intervention study, non-targeted, mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling was performed on saliva samples from 61 healthy adults, collected at five time-points. The effect of erythritol was studied in a randomized, controlled trial setting. Fourteen salivary biochemistry variables were measured with antibody- or enzymatic activity-based assays. Results Bacterial amino acid catabolites (cadaverine, N-acetylcadaverine, and α-hydroxyisovalerate) and end-products of bacterial alkali-producing pathways (N-α-acetylornithine and γ-aminobutyrate) increased significantly during the experimental gingivitis. Significant changes were found in a set of 13 salivary metabolite ratios composed of host cell membrane lipids involved in cell signaling, host responses to bacteria, and defense against free radicals. An increase in mevalonate was also observed. There were no significant effects of erythritol. No significant changes were found in functional salivary biochemistry. Conclusions The findings underline a dynamic interaction between the host and the oral microbial biofilm during an experimental induction of gingivitis.