Efficacy of vitamins E and C for reversing the cytotoxic effects of nicotine and cotinine

Abstract

Nicotine has adverse cellular and molecular effects on oral mucosa, bone, and teeth. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are biological antioxidants with positive effects on wound healing and bone formation. This in vitro study sought to assess the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of nicotine and cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine) on MG-63 osteoblast-like cells and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in the presence and absence of antioxidant vitamins E and C (separately and combined). Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using the methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cell migration was assessed using the scratch test, and expression of apoptosis-related genes was quantitatively analyzed using real-time PCR. Dose-dependent negative effects of nicotine on the morphology, viability, proliferation, and migration of MG-63 and HGF cells were statistically significantly greater than those of cotinine. Vitamin E (separately and combined with vitamin C) was statistically significantly more effective than vitamin C (at the concentration used in this study) at improving cell viability, proliferation, and migration, and at reducing apoptosis of cells exposed to nicotine or cotinine. Based on the positive results of this study, vitamin C and especially vitamin E (systemically and/or locally) may be useful in the repair and regeneration of oral hard and soft tissues in smokers.

Effects of Vitamin and Amino Acid-Enriched Hyaluronic Acid Gel on the Healing of Oral Mucosa: In Vivo and In Vitro Study

“…Therefore, the second part of the present study aimed at evaluating the viability of HGF in the presence of HAplus supplemented with vitamins C and E. We chose vitamin C and vitamin E as active agents due to their antioxidant [37,38] and collagen-stimulating properties [39]. Vitamin C is a strong water-soluble antioxidant and a powerful reducing agent, able to regulate the expression of the procollagen gene, stimulating collagen synthesis, and fibroblast and osteoblast differentiation and proliferation [39][40][41]. This vitamin is often used to supplement fibroblast culture medium to maintain the functionality and the differentiation of the cells [24].…”

“…This vitamin is often used to supplement fibroblast culture medium to maintain the functionality and the differentiation of the cells [24]. In clinical practice, vitamin C-based gel applications are indicated and recommended for people with collagen turnover deficit [39,40]. Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble antioxidant, critical for cell membrane maintenance, and is important for the improvement of hard [42] and soft tissue [39] healing.…”

“…In clinical practice, vitamin C-based gel applications are indicated and recommended for people with collagen turnover deficit [39,40]. Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble antioxidant, critical for cell membrane maintenance, and is important for the improvement of hard [42] and soft tissue [39] healing. In phase II, the HAplus plus vitamins formulation was set, following ISO-10993 standard, in order to achieve optimal and non-toxic concentrations of vitamins for fibroblast viability.…”

Possible benefits from nutritional supplements during periodontitis (gum disease) treatment

“…Vitamin E, auch a-tocopherol genannt, schützt die Lipidmembran der Zellen vor Lipidperoxidationen und stellt somit eine der effektivsten lipophilen Antioxidantien dar (Torshabi et al, 2017). Vitamin E verbessert das Level der im Blut vorhandenen antioxidativen Enzyme und führt zu einer Aufschiebung der oxidativen Degeneration von Lipiden (Singh et al, 2014).…”

Action of a deproteinized xenogenic biomaterial in the process of bone repair in rats submitted to inhalation of cigarette smoke

“…Nicotine contributes to inflammatory periodontal disease, a change in gingival tissue, inhibiting bone formation and decreasing the synthesis of collagen and osteoblasts 3 . Smoking can interfere with vascular reactions because it causes vasoconstriction in the human gum, but when compared to other body regions it is less intense, for example vasoconstriction in the thumb skin 4 .…”