The effect of Vitamin E supplementation on treatment of chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Vitamin E supplements on chronic periodontitis based on the clinical parameters of pocket depth and clinical attachment level and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of saliva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, 16 patients with chronic periodontitis were selected and divided into two groups. The indices of pocket depth and attachment loss for 6 teeth per person were measured with a periodontal probe. A total of 41 teeth in the control group and 42 teeth in the case group were examined. Then, 2 ml nonstimulated saliva was collected from each patient. All patients were treated with scaling and root planing (SRP). The case group consumed 200 IU supplementary Vitamin E daily for up to 2 months. After 2 months, clinical indices were re-measured and 2 ml nonstimulated saliva was collected. The TAC of saliva samples was measured by using Zellbio’s TAC Kit. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software and were evaluated in each group between the first session and 2 months later with paired t-test. The differences between the two groups were evaluated through the independent t-test (α ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: Independent t-test showed that mean change in TAC (P = 0.14) and pocket depth changes (P = 0.33) was not significant between two groups 2 months after SRP, but mean attachment loss changes in the case group was significantly less than the control group (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that Vitamin E supplementation with SRP can reduce the inflammatory process of periodontitis and improve periodontal clinical indices and decrease the amount of attachment loss.