Methods: sixty eight chronic gingivitis subjects were randomly assigned to a toothpaste regimen: Colgate Regular (CR), (n = 35) or CT (n = 33). Subjects were instructed to use their assigned dentifrice twice daily for 6 weeks. The saliva samples were collected from each subject at baseline, 1 week and 6 weeks and analyzed by a global metabolomics platform based on LC/MS/MS2 and GC/MS. The ion features obtained from the samples were matched to chemical standards in a reference library for structural identification, and their relative levels quantitated. ANOVA was performed to compare the difference of CT and CR treatments during this time course.
Results: A total of 537 metabolites were detected, statistically analyzed, and mapped into their respective biochemical pathways. The level of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), a marker and mediator for inflammation and various systemic diseases, was found to be significantly suppressed by CT (p<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of several bacterial products were diminished in the CT group.
Conclusion: This result indicated that CT has beneficial effects against gingivitis. In addition, the results continue to support an unbiased objective method for the clinical study of periodontal disease. Funding provided by the Colgate Palmolive Co.