COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SALIVARY ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN PRE AND POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT PERIODONTITIS

Abstract

Background and Objective: In the periodontium, ALP is very important enzyme as it is part of normal turnover of periodontal ligament, root cementum, and bone homeostasis. The deficiency of estrogen in women at menopause is contributing factor to osteoporosis and considered one of the risk factors for periodontal disease. It has been hypothesized that osteoporosis decreases alveolar bone density and in turn increases its susceptibility to resorption due to periodontal inflammation. Accelerated bone loss in menopause is related to increased bone turnover. This is accompanied by increased levels of biochemical markers such as Alkaline Phosphatase. Alteration in salivary Alkaline Phosphatase levels

Methodology:The study included 40 subjects,10 in each group:

Group I (pre-menopausal women with clinically healthy periodontium);
Group II (pre-menopausal women with chronic periodontitis)
Group III (post-menopausal women with a clinically healthy periodontium); and
Group IV (post-menopausal women with chronic periodontitis.
Result: The mean ALP in saliva was found to be higher in Group IV as compared to group II and the difference was statistically significant with the p-value of 0.001 [Table:2]
Conclusion: ALP level is increased in post menopausal women with chronic periodontitis than in postmenopausal women with healthy periodontiunm. In our study, ALP was found to be high in both the groups. Post menopausal women are more prone to periodontal infections therefore they should be motivated to maintain proper oral hygiene. Hence salivary ALP can be taken as an additional biomarker to early diagnosis of development and progression of periodontitis especially among post menopausal women.