The Effect of Obesity Versus Orthodontic Tooth Movement on Salivary Myeloperoxidase Level

Background: Obesity is a major healthcare challenge and orthodontic treatment need is steadily increased thus it is necessary to understand the response of teeth and their supporting structures of obese subjects, to the applied orthodontic force, by noninvasive analysis of inflammatory biomarkers in saliva. Aim of current study: This prospective biochemical study investigated the levels of the inflammatory mediator myeloperoxidase (MPO) during orthodontic tooth movement in obese and normal-weight individuals undergoing routine orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Patients and methods: Sixty patients with mean age 14.5 (SD, 1.8) years and body mass index (BMI) mean of 30.75 (2.46) kg/m2 in obese and 19.48 (2.12) kg/m2 in normal weight groups were followed before fixed appliance placement till 60 days. Data collection included unstimulated mouth saliva (UMS) sample at: (T0) baseline (before appliance placement); (T1) 1-day and (T2) 7- days following appliance placement; (T3) 60-days. MPO levels were measured in UMS between T0-T3. Results were analyzed by Friedman and Mann Whitney U test. Results: The level of MPO was significantly greater in UMS of obese patients at baseline (T0) and all subsequent time-points (T1-T3). Within each group, MPO level increased from T0 till T3 with no significant difference between T2-T3 in obese group and between T0-T1, and T2-T3 in control group.Conclusion: The level of MPO was significantly greater in UMS of obese patients at baseline, consistent with a systemic pro- inflammatory state of obesity. Orthodontic treatment induced increased MPO levels in UMS within both groups. MPO levels can be reliably determined in saliva.