Effect of vitamin E gel, placebo gel and chlorhexidine on periodontal disease

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a topical 5% vitamin E gel, a placebo gel and chlorhexidine on established and developing plaque and periodontal disease in 48 adult subjects. Baseline data included Plaque Index, Gingival Index and periodontal probing depth. All data were collected by a single calibrated examiner using a double-blind methodology. One group of subjects applied 12 mL of a vitamin E-containing gel delivering 800 mg of alpha-tocopherol, another applied 12 mL of a placebo gel, and the final group rinsed with 0.5 oz of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate. After two weeks, the clinical data were again recorded, and two quadrants were randomly selected and treated by root planing and scaling, with data collection repeated after both 4 and 6 weeks. Our results indicated that no significant effects upon plaque or gingivitis were obtainable in either the placebo or the vitamin E groups. However, use of 0.12% chlorhexidine significantly reduced plaque. These results do not support the use of vitamin E as a topical chemotherapeutic agent for the control of gingivitis or periodontal disease.