Assessment of Salivary Zink Level and its impact on Periodontal Health among Children and Adolescence with Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract

\n Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the most common inherited disorder around the world. It affects red blood cells resulting in severe hemolysis and painful crisis with multi-organ damage. Sickle cell anemia patients showed an impaired antioxidant status due to a reduced antioxidant defense mechanism that depends indirectly on zinc micronutrient. Several studies revealed a low level of serum zinc among sickle patients. However, none of them investigates the impact of SCA on salivary zinc level. This study aims to measure zinc level in saliva and its influence on the periodontal health of Sudanese children with SCA in Khartoum state. Up to our knowledge, this the first study conducted to measure salivary Zink level and its impact on periodontal health among sickle patients Subjects and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among children and adolescents aged 5-18 years old. Sixty individuals were involved, 30 with SCA compared to 30 healthy controls groups. An Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer quantified the salivary level of zinc. Periodontal examinations were assessed in SCA children using the periodontal community index.Results: The mean ages in the sickle cell anemic group were 10.37 ± 4.13 years old, while the mean ages of subjects in the control group were 9.37 ± 3.6 years (P.Value: 0.169). Salivary zinc level was significantly lower among SCA patients (P.Value <0.001) than in the healthy control group. None of the participants were diagnosed with periodontitis. The less salivary zinc level was significantly higher in SCA with standard pocket depth and no clinical attachment loss than patients diagnosed with gingivitis ( P. Value:0.025).Conclusions: Sickle patients have a low level of zinc in saliva, which may contribute to some manifestations of sickle cell disease and may make them more susceptible to periodontal disease in the future. We recommend conducting more research on oral and periodontal health among children affected with SCA to improve their quality of life.