A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF MICRONUTRIENT (ZINC, COPPER AND SELENIUM) LEVELS IN THE SERUM OF HEALTHY, GINGIVITIS AND CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS PATIENTS- A CLINICO BIOCHEMICAL STUDY

Context:Periodontitis is a complex disease in which disease expression involves intricate interactions of the biofilm with the host immune inflammatory response. Micronutrients like zinc, copper and selenium play an important role in antioxidant defense, immune regulation, and neutralization of the inflammation process at the cellular level. It has been reported that deficiencies of several macro and micronutrients adversely influence the prognosis of periodontal infections.

Aims:This study has been designed to estimate and compare the serum levels of micronutrients (zinc, copper and selenium) in healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis patients before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Settings and Design: This study is a case-control study.

Methods and Material: The comprised of 75 patients who were divided into three groups - Group I consisting of 25 periodontally healthy subjects, Group II consisting of 25 subjects with chronic gingivitis and Group III consisting of 25 subjects with chronic periodontitis. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry method was used to measure the clinical level of selenium, zinc and copper in serum.

Statistical analysis used: One way ANOVA with Tukey Post-Hoc test and Paired t-test was used.

Results: Results show highly significant increase in copper levels and decrease in zinc and selenium levels in periodontitis group compared to the control. There is an increase in the zinc and decrease in copper pre and post treatment levels.

Conclusions: Imbalance of Zinc, copper and selenium levels in the serum can predispose an individual to the risk of developing periodontitis.