Wheat seeds can delay orthodontic tooth movement by blocking osteoclastogenesis in rats

BACKGROUND: The hormone estrogen can prevent osteoclast differentiation and suppress osteoclastic activity, which can prevent tooth relapse movement. Wheat seeds are a natural material containing phytoestrogens with similar characteristics to estrogen. OBJECTIVE: This study intends to determine the influence of wheat seeds in reducing osteoclastogenesis following orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this experimental study. The rats were divided into control and treatment groups (n=20). In both groups, the rat maxillary incisors were moved distally using a 0.012 U stainless steel orthodontic appliance with a 2 mm diameter coil and 5 mm wire length. The treatment group received wheat seeds at a dose of 0.6 gram/day. The animals were sacrificed at days 0, 1, 7, and 14 after using the orthodontic appliance (4 subgroups according to observations of days; n=5). RANKL and OPG expressions were determined from the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples using ELISA analysis. Statistical analysis of the data collected was calculated with the independent sample t-test (P<0.05). RESULTS: All the experimental procedures were well-tolerated and did not change the animals’ weight. On days 7 and 14, the OTM rate of the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). ELISA test results showed that the OPG level was significantly higher on days 1, 7, and 14, while the RANKL level was considerably lower on day 14 in the wheat seeds group compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Wheat seeds can promote osteoclastogenesis inhibition and delay OTM.