Effect of Lycopene in the Treatment of Periodontal Disease: A Clinical Study

Abstract

Purpose: Several epidemiologic studies have suggested a role of tomato products in decreasing the risk of the development of diseases related to oxidative stress (cancer and other chronic diseases). Oxidative stress may result in periodontal tissue damage either directly or indirectly. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant and the main carotenoid in tomato products possesses the greatest quenching ability of singlet oxygen among the various carotenoids and is effective in protecting blood lymphocytes from NOO-radical damage. Hence, the aim of the present study is to compare the effect of systemically administered lycopene as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. Materials and methods:Twenty systemically healthy patients were involved in a randomized, double-blind, parallel study and based on their clinical signs were divided into two groups of mild to moderate periodontitis (A) and moderate gingivitis (B). The subjects under the groups A and B were randomly distributed between the two treatment groups: test group (n = 5), 4 mg lycopene/day for 2 weeks with oral prophylaxis (full mouth scaling and root planing (SRP) completed within 24 hours) and controls (n = 5), receiving only oral prophylaxis. Pre-and post-therapeutic periodontal parameters were evaluated.

The Role of Nutrition in Periodontal Health: An Update

“…A study by Chandra et al suggested that lycopene supplementation may enhance the improvement of periodontal health [ 104 ]. Similarly, later studies have also found a possible therapeutic role of lycopene in the management of periodontitis [ 105 , 106 ]. To date, the exact mechanism of action of lycopene in the periodontium has not been established.…”

Carotenoids and Periodontal Infection

“…Although carotenoids are known as playing an important role in the prevention of inflammatory diseases, the clinical efficacy for periodontitis may be only beginning to be investigated now (Table 1). Periodontitis patients, N = 20 Improvement of periodontal healing [43] Periodontitis patients, N = 100…”

“…Arora et al, reported that systemic lycopene administration suppressed salivary IL-1 levels, resulting in inhibition of periodontal inflammation [42]. Belludi et al, have also reported that lycopene is an effective carotenoid in patients with periodontitis clinically [43]. Although number of subjects in the clinical study was very limited, significant improvement of periodontal healing was observed after oral prophylaxis in Lycopene-treated group compared with control group.…”

Antioxidants and Periodontal Diseases

“…Systemic supplementation of 8 mg/day of lycopene was reported to decrease the gingival index in patients with gingivitis [88]. In individuals with chronic periodontitis, it was reported that the supplementation of 4 mg/day of oral lycopene in addition to SRP for 2 weeks resulted in a reduction in clinical attachment loss [89]. Arora et al [90] found that, in individuals with CP, 8 mg/day of oral lycopene intake for 2 months in addition to SRP had positive effects in plaque index, modified gingival index, probing bleeding, and saliva IL-1β compared to the control group but reported that there was no significant difference in terms of a reduction in pocket depth, clinical attachment, and serum TNF-α levels.…”