IADR Abstract Archives
Age and Gender-Related Differences in Human Gingival Blood Flow
Objectives: The previous studies in gingival microcirculation and wound healing indicated that gender might influence gingival blood flow (GBF) differently in young and old. We aimed to investigate the resting GBF and the vascular reactivity of gingival vessels in females before/after menopause and males in the same age intervals: 20-43 and 50-90.
Methods: Healthy volunteers, without medicatons (n=48) took part in the investigations. They were divided after Engeland (Engeland, 2009) into four age groups: younger men (n=18; mean age:32), older men (n=6; mean age: 62), younger women (n=15; mean age:26), older women (n=9; mean age: 63). GBF was measured with Laser Speckle Contrast Imager (LSCI). After a short (1-2min) baseline measurement, compression was applied on the marginal gingiva with standardized force (100g). After the release of the compression, GBF was monitored for 20 minutes. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured, and the mean blood pressure (MAP) and the vascular resistance (GVR) were calculated. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was calculated. The group was compared by linear mixed model.
Results: The age positively correlated with the MAP (r=0.47, p<0.001) and the baseline GBF (r=0.42, p<0.01) regardless of gender. No correlation was found between the age and the GVR (r=-0.18, p=0.222). The young male had a significantly higher MAP (97±1.6 mm Hg vs. 90±1.6 mm Hg, p<0.05) and GBF (185±10.4 LSPU vs. 228±8.7 LSPU, p<0.05) than the young female. The max response of GBF negatively correlated with the age (r= -0.43, p<0.01) in both genders. The max decrease GVR after compression was attenuated by age (r=0.41, p<0.01).
Conclusions: The baseline GBF increases with age and is higher in males due to the elevated MAP. The vascular reactivity decreases with age in both genders, but it is not related to the increase in the MAP.
Methods: Healthy volunteers, without medicatons (n=48) took part in the investigations. They were divided after Engeland (Engeland, 2009) into four age groups: younger men (n=18; mean age:32), older men (n=6; mean age: 62), younger women (n=15; mean age:26), older women (n=9; mean age: 63). GBF was measured with Laser Speckle Contrast Imager (LSCI). After a short (1-2min) baseline measurement, compression was applied on the marginal gingiva with standardized force (100g). After the release of the compression, GBF was monitored for 20 minutes. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured, and the mean blood pressure (MAP) and the vascular resistance (GVR) were calculated. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was calculated. The group was compared by linear mixed model.
Results: The age positively correlated with the MAP (r=0.47, p<0.001) and the baseline GBF (r=0.42, p<0.01) regardless of gender. No correlation was found between the age and the GVR (r=-0.18, p=0.222). The young male had a significantly higher MAP (97±1.6 mm Hg vs. 90±1.6 mm Hg, p<0.05) and GBF (185±10.4 LSPU vs. 228±8.7 LSPU, p<0.05) than the young female. The max response of GBF negatively correlated with the age (r= -0.43, p<0.01) in both genders. The max decrease GVR after compression was attenuated by age (r=0.41, p<0.01).
Conclusions: The baseline GBF increases with age and is higher in males due to the elevated MAP. The vascular reactivity decreases with age in both genders, but it is not related to the increase in the MAP.