Dietary and Salivary Oxidative Status Related to Root Caries Severity: A Case-Control Study

Root caries (RC) is a significant concern in older adults. Oxidative stress and dietary factors may play a role in its development and progression. However, the interactive effects of dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) and RC severity (RCS) on salivary oxidative status in this population are not fully understood. This study aimed to assess dietary and salivary oxidative status and to investigate the interactive effect of RCS and dTAC on salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) in older adults.

A case-control study was conducted with 90 participants aged 50-60 years recruited from a university dental hospital. Participants were allocated into six groups (n = 15/group) based on dTAC (high/low) and RCS (none, incipient, and shallow). dTAC was measured using the ferric reducing-antioxidant power assay. Salivary TAC and TOS levels were measured using colorimetric kits. RCS was clinically diagnosed. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), two-way multivariate ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Salivary TAC was significantly higher in participants with high dTAC (P < 0.05) and increased with increasing RCS (P < 0.01). Salivary TOS was lower in those with high dTAC (P < 0.01) and increased with increasing RCS (P < 0.01). A significant interactive effect of RCS and dTAC on both TAC and TOS was observed (P < 0.01).

Both dietary TAC and RC S have significant, independent, and interactive effects on salivary oxidative status among older adults. A diet high in antioxidants may improve salivary oxidative status and potentially mitigate the severity of RC. Dietary interventions aimed at increasing antioxidant intake may be a valuable adjunct to conventional RC prevention strategies in older adults. Further research should explore the long-term impact of dietary antioxidants on RC incidence and progression, and investigate specific antioxidant compounds and their mechanisms of action in larger, more diverse populations.