Is There a Role for Oxidative Stress in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders?

Purpose: Data on the role of oxidative stress in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are limited. This study compared serum levels of oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant enzymes in patients with TMJ disorders.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective study, patients with TMJ disorders and healthy controls were compared for descriptive characteristics (age and gender) and serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, and antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD).

Results: This study included 32 patients with TMJ disorders and 32 healthy controls. There were no differences between the 2 groups for age (P = .98) and gender (P = .599). MDA levels were higher in the TMJ disorders group than in the control group (P < .001), whereas serum levels of CAT, SOD, and GSH were significantly higher in the control group (P < .001 for all comparisons). There was no correlation between age or gender and MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH levels in the TMJ disorders or control group.

Conclusion: Oxidative stress markers might have promising potential as biomarkers in the diagnostic strategy and therapeutic targets of TMJ disorders.