Evaluation of the efficacy of taurine as an antioxidant in the management of patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND In the recent years, various studies have shown a link between the free radicals, antioxidants and periodontal diseases. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative stress and the antioxidant status present in the gingival tissue and plasma of patients with chronic periodontitis and to evaluate the antioxidant property of taurine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Periodontal status in 10 chronic periodontitis patients was assessed in terms of gingival index, plaque index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level prior to and after oral administration of taurine (500 mg O.D.) for 15 days. The oxidative stress present in the gingival tissue and blood (by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TBARS]) and the antioxidants namely glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated before and after administration of taurine. The changes in the clinical parameters were also reassessed following administration of taurine. Statistical comparisons were performed using the Student's t-test. A level of P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS The levels of TBARS in plasma and gingival tissue showed a significant reduction (P < 0.001) following administration of taurine. The antioxidant enzyme GPX showed a significant reduction following administration of taurine (P < 0.001), whereas GSH increased significantly (P < 0.001) following administration of taurine. The improvement in the periodontal status following administration of taurine was also significant statistically. CONCLUSION Based on the biochemical and clinical assessments, taurine seems to exert a protective role against the oxidative stress in the management of patients with chronic periodontitis.