J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2021 Oct 1;45(4):265-268. doi: 10.17796/1053-4625-45.4.8.
Role of salivary zinc to dental caries and body weight has not been studied extensively in children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between salivary zinc and caries in overweight/obese Indian children.
One hundred and sixty children aged 8-12 years of both genders were divided into two groups of eighty each based on their body mass index into normal weight and overweight/obese. Each child was assessed for their caries experience in primary and permanent dentition. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected from each child to estimate zinc levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data was subjected to statistical analysis.
The mean caries score among the overweight/obese children was 2.2±3.9 and 0.7±1.5 in the primary and permanent dentition respectively compared to the 2.0±2.6 and 0.2±0.5 respectively among normal weight children. Mean salivary zinc levels in overweight/obese children were 0.36±0.27 ppm compared to normal weight children of 0.81±0.46 ppm.
Overweight/obese children demonstrated significantly lower salivary zinc levels and higher caries experience in permanent dentition. Salivary zinc levels showed a positive but weak association to caries in permanent dentition in both groups. Salivary zinc levels showed a negative non-significant correlation to caries in primary dentition among the children with higher BMI.
唾液锌在龋齿和体重方面的作用在儿童中尚未得到广泛研究。本研究旨在评估超重/肥胖印度儿童唾液锌与龋齿之间的关系。
将 160 名 8-12 岁的儿童按照体重指数分为正常体重组和超重/肥胖组，每组 80 人。对每个孩子的乳牙和恒牙的龋齿情况进行评估。从每个孩子采集非刺激性唾液样本，用原子吸收分光光度计估计锌水平。对数据进行统计学分析。
超重/肥胖儿童的平均龋齿评分分别为乳牙 2.2±3.9 和恒牙 0.7±1.5，而正常体重儿童的相应评分分别为乳牙 2.0±2.6 和恒牙 0.2±0.5。超重/肥胖儿童的唾液锌平均水平为 0.36±0.27ppm，而正常体重儿童的唾液锌平均水平为 0.81±0.46ppm。
超重/肥胖儿童的唾液锌水平较低，恒牙龋齿发生率较高。唾液锌水平与两组恒牙龋齿呈正相关，但相关性较弱。在 BMI 较高的儿童中，唾液锌水平与乳牙龋齿呈负相关，但无统计学意义。
