Cocoa Administration May Accelerate Orthodontic Tooth Movement through Inducing Osteoclastogenesis in Rats

Objectives: Accelerated orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is desirable from the patient's and orthodontist’s point of view because normal treatment duration is too long. In an attempt to accelerate OTM, several novel modalities have been developed; however, the adverse effects and complications in clinical operation discouraged their extensive application. Cocoa contained methylxanthine; the caffeine active compounds, which may contribute to accelerate OTM. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Cocoa on OTM rate, Receptor Activator of Nuclear-Factor κ β Ligand (RANKL), and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels after OTM.
Methods: A total of 24 Sprague Dawley (equally divided into 2 groups, Cocoa and Control groups) were enrolled. The upper incisors of all rats have subjected to orthodontic force 35 cN and moved distally using a stainless-steel 3-spin coil-spring. During OTM, Cocoa group was given 4.8 grams unsweetened cocoa once a day. At 4 subsequent time points (0, 1, 7, and 14 days), OTM rate was determined by measuring the distance between the mesial tips using a digital calliper, while OPG and RANKL levels were examined from their gingival crevicular fluid through specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data gathered were analyzed using independent t-test with values of P < .05 was considered significant.
Results: All the experimental procedures were well-tolerated and did not affect the animals body weight. The OTM rate of Cocoa group was significantly higher than that of the Control group on day 1, 7, and 14 (P< .05). ELISA analysis revealed that the OPG level was significantly lower on day 14; and that the RANKL level was significantly higher on day 0, 1, and 7 in the Cocoa group compared with the Control group (P< .05).
Conclusions: Cocoa has the potential effect to modulate the OTM rate by inducing osteoclastogenesis (suppresses OPG level and stimulates RANKL level) in rats.