Interleukin 1 alpha genetic polymorphisms as potential biomarkers for oral health-related quality of life in Para athletes.

AIMS: To assess the impact of dental caries on OHRQoL in Para athletes and to evaluate whether interleukin 1 alpha (IL1A) (rs17561, rs1304037), interleukin 10 (IL10) (rs1800871), and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) (rs9005) genes are potential biomarkers for OHRQoL in Para athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study consisting of 264 Para athletes (athletics, 143; powerlifting, 61; and swimming, 60) aged between 14 and 79 years was conducted. The decayed-missing-filled teeth index was used for the clinical evaluation. The Brazilian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure the OHRQoL. Genomic DNA was extracted from the saliva. Genetic polymorphisms were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: The overall mean OHIP-14 score observed was 6.24 (standard deviation, 7.05) and 10.03 (standard deviation, 8.11) in Para athletes with no caries experience and with caries experience, respectively (p = .002). Para athletes with the A allele in the IL1A gene (rs17561), in a dominant model, had a significantly higher risk of poor psychological discomfort than those with the other allele (p = .03). CONCLUSION: Dental caries affected the OHRQoL in Para athletes. IL1A genetic polymorphisms were the potential biomarkers for OHRQoL in Para athletes.

Salivary pH and oral health of Brazilian para-athletes: Saliva and oral health of para-athletes.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association of the salivary pH and parameters of oral health in Brazilian para-athletes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The sample was composed of 271 Brazilian para-athletes (147 athletics, 61 powerlifting, and 63 swimming); mean age was 31.2 ± 11.7 years. Data collected during anamnesis, clinical examination, and saliva collection revealed that salivary pH was different among sports (p = .01) and tends to decrease as age and body mass index (BMI) increase (p = .026, .027, respectively). The mean decay missing filled teeth was 8.8 (±0.57), but there is no correlation with salivary pH (R2  = -0.0852; CI 95%, -0.215-0.047; p = .194) as habits of grinding, clenching teeth, or bruxism was not associated with salivary pH (p = .317, .932, and .444, respectively). Regarding breathing, para-athletes that have buccal breathing had significantly higher salivary pH (p = .04). This data were confirmed by multiple logistic regression (p = .05). Open bite, lip seal, geographic or fissured tongue also were not associated with variation of salivary pH (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence of an association between salivary pH with age, BMI, type of breathing, and type of sport practiced by the para-athletes.