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Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of fasting on the innate defence mechanism by measuring the granulocyte chemotactic protein-2 levels and the enzymatic activity of the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in individuals diagnosed with dental caries. Methods: This longitudinal observational study included male and female college students attended teaching dentistry clinics in Baghdad, Iraq. The study took place between November 2023 and May 2024. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all participants and the biomarkers granulocyte chemotactic protein-2 and lactate dehydrogenase were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Every subject under study underwent a clinical examination by a dentist. Results: A total of 64 college students were included in this study. The results revealed that levels of granulocyte chemotactic protein-2 (GCP-2) increased significantly from baseline (i.e., fasting) () to post-fasting measurements (236.62 ± 20.47 ng/L versus 328.41 ± 26.86 ng/L; P = 0.010). Similarly, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity demonstrated a significant change in the same period (206.75 ± 11.37 pg/mL versus 281.19 ± 25.74 pg/mL; P = 0.012). A positive correlation (r = 0.247; P = 0.049) was observed between changes in GCP-2 and LDH levels. Conclusion: This study found that fasting impacts biomarkers related to dental health. Levels of GCP-2 and LDH exhibited considerable changes, whereas pH and salivary flow rate remained unchanged. Reduced GCP-2 levels during fasting may suggest a decrease in inflammatory activity, which in turn lowers the risk of periodontal disease. In addition, reducing LDH levels during fasting may lead to a dynamic interplay between metabolic states, oral health and tissue stress.

Publication Date

10-31-2025

First Page

967

Last Page

973

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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