The link between sleep bruxism and oxidative stress based on a polysomnographic study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Sleep Medicine
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Oxidative stress elevates cardiovascular risk and reduces healthy life expectancy.
• Sleep bruxism (SB), a common sleep disorder, has unclear pathophysiology and potential links to oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sleep bruxism and oxidative stress markers.
• To compare antioxidant status in individuals with and without sleep bruxism.

Main Methods:

• Eighty adults underwent polysomnography to assess sleep bruxism (SB) according to American Academy of Sleep Medicine standards.
• Blood samples were analyzed for total antioxidant status (TAS), advanced protein products (AOPP), and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS).
• Participants were categorized based on bruxism episode index (BEI) to identify correlations with moderate (BEI > 2) and severe (BEI > 4) SB.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher sleep bruxism parameters were observed with low TAS (≤ 0.14-0.16 mM) and high AOPP (≥ 82.44 µmol/l) and TBARS (≥ 723.03-1585.45 µmol/l) serum levels.
• A clear relationship was found between sleep bruxism and the measured oxidative stress markers.
• Low total antioxidant status and elevated markers of lipid and protein peroxidation are associated with sleep bruxism.

Conclusions:

• Sleep bruxism is demonstrably related to oxidative stress markers.
• Elevated oxidative stress markers in sleep bruxers may indicate endovascular damage and increased cardiovascular risk.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the link between sleep bruxism, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular health.