Total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis of oral fluids of women affected by osteoporosis and osteopenia

H. J. SÁNCHEZ; M.C. VALENTINUZZI; M.S. GRENÓN; J. ABRAHAM

SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART B-ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2008 vol. 63 p. 1485 - 1488

0584-8547

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue,leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures; the early stage of decreased bonedensity is called osteopenia. More than 200 million people are affected and about 50% of post-menopausicwomen are expected to develop the disease. Osteoporosis, osteopenia and periodontal disease have incommon several risk factors, being hyperthyroidism and smoking habits the most important ones. There isscarce information in the literature about the association between periodontal disease and osteoporosis and/or osteopenia. Some works suggest that osteoporotic women are susceptible to a higher loss of periodontalinsertion, alveolar bones, and teeth.Thirty adult post-menopausic women were studied; some of them were healthy (control group) and the restof them were undergoing some stage of osteoporosis or osteopenia. All the subjects were healthy, nonsmokers,not having dental implants, and with communitarian periodontal index higher than 1(CPIN1).Samples of saliva and gingival crevice fluid were extracted with calibrated micro-capillaries and deposited onSi reflectors. Known amounts of Ga were added to the samples in order to act as internal standard forquantification by the total reflection x-ray fluorescence technique. Experimental concentrations of severalelements (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Fe, NI, Cu, and Zn) were determined. The concentration of some elements in salivashowed different behavior as compared to gingival crevice fluid. Some critical elements of bone composition,such as Ca and Zn, present very distinguishable behavior. Improvements in the statistics are required for abetter assessment of a routine method and to establish some correlation with periodontal disease. TXRFseems to be a promising method to evaluate the evolution of osteoporosis.