Tai Chi Exercise Increases SOD Activity and Total Antioxidant Status in Saliva and Is Linked to an Improvement of Periodontal Disease in the Elderly

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Tai Chi on biological markers of oxidative stress in saliva and its relationship with periodontal disease (PD) in older adults. We carried out a quasi-experimental study with a sample of 71 sedentary volunteers with PD who were divided into a control group of 34 subjects and an experimental group of 37 subjects who performed Tai Chi 5 days a week for a period of 6 months. PD status was characterized using the Periodontal Disease Index (PDI). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant status (TAS), and TBARS levels of both groups were measured by spectrophotometric methods. In addition, inflammation markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were measured by flow cytometry. We found a statistically significant increase in SOD activity (P < 0.001) and TAS concentration (P < 0.05), whereas levels of IL-1β were significantly lower (P < 0.01). Likewise, a statistically significant decrease in the PDI (P < 0.05) was observed in subjects who performed Tai Chi during a period of 6 months. Our findings suggest that the practice of Tai Chi has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that are linked to the improvement of PD in older adults.

Effects of T'ai Chi on Chronic Systemic Inflammation

“…1,3,4,6,9,11 Two quasiexperimental studies were conducted by the same research group. 12,13 Compared with noncontact controls, 6-month t'ai chi practice did not alter circulating levels of inflammatory markers in older adults with periodontal disease, 12 and only lowered levels of one, but not other proinflammatory cytokines in older adults with metabolic disease. 13 These findings are consistent with those from the randomized controlled studies.…”

“…Among 26 articles, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] There were two sets of articles that describe the same studies. 3,4,7,8 The authors combined the two articles for one study, 3,4 and included one article for the other study.…”

“…8 Among the 11 studies, 9 studies were randomized controlled studies 1-6,8-11 and 2 studies were quasiexperimental studies. 12,13…”

Effects of bodybuilding and protein supplements in saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and serum

“…A previous study reported that regular exercise induced positive biological changes and reduced inflammatory markers and that IL-1β in saliva had anti-inflammatory effects on periodontal tissues (31). In the bodybuilders, expression levels of all the genes were significantly downregulated in both GCF and saliva compared with those in the gingivitis and healthy control groups (Figs.…”

Effect of Yoga Module on Pro- Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Industrial Workers of Lonavla: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…According to another study, intense physical exercises induced a systemic anti-inflammatory response, evidenced by a marked increase in plasma IL-10 levels (peaked at 1 hour post exercise) that was most likely mediated by increased plasma IL-6 levels (peaked immediately post exercise) [38]. It was also observed that exercise initially increases pro-inflammatory cytokines, which then activate anti-inflammatory cytokine [39][40][41][42].…”