To evaluate the effect of oral zinc supplementation on salivary MMP-8 levels in periodontitis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health. Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease characterized by inflammation and destruction of the gums and surrounding tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral zinc supplementation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis by evaluating its effects on clinical parameters and salivary MMP-8 level.

METHODS

42 patients were enrolled in the study from the periodontology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in India. The subjects were divided into two groups: group 1 and group 2 consisting of 21 patients each of moderate to severe periodontitis. Group 1 was given oral zinc supplementation along with scaling and root planing (SRP) and group 2 was given placebo tablet along with SRP for 1 month. Several periodontal parameters were assessed, including Papillary bleeding Index (BI), Gingival index (GI), Probing pocket depth (PPD) and Clinical attachment level (CAL) at baseline as well as at 1 month post treatment. Around 3 ml of whole unstimulated saliva was collected for MMP-8 estimation by ELISA method at baseline as well as at 1 month.

RESULTS

The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. All clinical parameters and MMP-8 level in saliva were comparable at baseline. 1 month after respective treatment modalities were performed in each group, it was found that all clinical parameters and salivary MMP-8 level showed significant differences with group 1 (zinc + SRP) showing highly significant decrease in GI, PPD and CAL (p < 0.01) and significant decrease in BI and salivary MMP-8 level when compared to group 2 (placebo + SRP) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

When compared with scaling and root planing alone, the administration of oral zinc supplementation along with scaling and root planing showed greater reduction in clinical parameters and salivary MMP-8 levels in patients with moderate to severe periodontitis. Zinc has a positive effect in management of periodontitis and can serve as an easy, cost effective, harmless and beneficial adjunct in treatment of periodontitis.