Treatment of periodontitis non-surgically by topical melatonin and vitamin C

ISRCTN ISRCTN68604984
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68604984
Submission date
20/09/2024
Registration date
02/10/2024
Last edited
08/01/2025
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Oral Health
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Melatonin can eliminate free radicals and this function can be improved by vitamin C. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the use of melatonin and vitamin C in the non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis (gum disease).

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18-65 years with chronic periodontitis

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into three groups: non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT); NSPT with melatonin; and NSPT with melatonin and vitamin C. Assessments were done at the start of the study and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after therapy.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Regarding benefits, there may be improvement and healing of periodontitis and overall oral health and quality of life. Regarding risk, as it is a clinical trial it may cause discomfort to the participants since it requires follow-ups.

Where is the study run from?
Azadi Dental Center (Iraq)

When is the study starting and how long is expected to run for?
December 2022 to August 2024

Who is funding the study?
Hawler Medical University (Iraq)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Kani Mohamad Rauf, dr.kani.m@gmail.com

Contact information

Dr Kani Mohamad Rauf
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator

Erbi iraq sharwani
Erbil
44001
Iraq

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0009-0004-3454-3350
Phone +964 (0)7733559090
Email dr.kani.m@gmail.com

Study information

Study designSingle-center interventional triple-blind randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format
Scientific titleEvaluation of the effect of topically applied melatonin and vitamin C in non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis
Study hypothesisThis study was designed to test the hypothesis that topical application of melatonin and vitamin C adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy will produce a better impact on probing depth, and clinical attachment loss than melatonin with non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) and NSPT alone.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 14/02/2023, Research Protocol Ethics Committee (Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialties, Erbil, 4400, Iraq; +964 (0)7503319493; president.office@khcms.edu.krd), ref: 56

ConditionLocalized chronic periodontitis with pocket depth ≥5 mm
InterventionThe intra-oral examination assessed gingival inflammation using the Gingival Index (GI), as well as measuring Probing Depth (PD) and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL). The PD was measured from the pocket base to the gingival crest, while CAL was measured from the pocket base to the cemento-enamel junction. These measurements were taken using a William's periodontal probe (MEDESY, Maniago, Italy). For each index tooth, measurements were recorded at four surfaces: mid-buccal/facial, mid-lingual/palatal, mesio-buccal, and disto-buccal. Participants were randomly divided into three groups using computer software: placebo, melatonin, and melatonin with vitamin C. Initial clinical parameters were recorded pre-treatment. All participants received full mouth scaling and root planning (SRP) using an ultrasonic device (DTE, D2 LED, Guilin Woodpecker Medical Instruments Co Ltd, Guilin, China), and Gracey periodontal curettes (Hu-Fridey Instruments, Chicago, IL, USA), followed by coronal polishing. Patients returned after 7 days for local drug application, which continued weekly for four weeks. The placebo group (33 patients) received 1 ml of 1% placebo gel. The melatonin group (33 patients) received 1 ml of 5% melatonin gel. The melatonin and vitamin C group (34 patients) received 1 ml of 250 mg vitamin C liquid for 5 minutes, followed by 1 ml of melatonin gel. Applications used disposable syringes with blunt needles. Patients were instructed not to rinse or eat for 30 minutes after application. A dental assistant managed daily arrangements to maintain researcher blindness.

Clinical measurements were taken four times: pre-treatment (baseline), 1 week post-therapy, 1 month post-intervention, and 3 months post-treatment. Measurements included Gingival Index (GI), Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL), and Probing Depth (PD). A single examiner (the researcher) conducted all clinical examinations.

The researcher, participants, and statistician were blinded to treatment types.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Not Applicable
PhaseNot Specified
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Melatonin gel, vitamin C solution
Primary outcome measure1. Presence or absence of gingival inflammation, evaluated using Gingival Index (GI) and Periodontal Disease Index (PDI)
2. Probing Depth (PD) (distance from the base of the pocket to the crest of the gingiva)
3. Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) (distance from the base of the pocket to the cemento-enamel junction)
Measured with William’s periodontal probe (MEDESY, Maniago, Italy) at four surfaces per one index tooth (mid-buccal/facial, mid-lingual/palatal, mesio-buccal and desto-buccal)

Measured four times during the study, the first measurement was recorded at baseline before SRP was done (pre-treatment record), then the second record 1 week after the therapy, the third record 1 month after the intervention and after 3 months of the treatment the patients were recalled again to record clinical measures (GI, CAL and PD). The clinical examination was carried out by a single examiner who was the researcher. All researchers, the participants and statisticians were blind to the type of treatment.
Secondary outcome measuresThere are no secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date22/12/2022
Overall study end date01/08/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit65 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants100
Total final enrolment88
Participant inclusion criteria1. Systematically healthy patients with localized chronic periodontitis
2. Aged 18-65 years
3. Pocket depths ≥5 mm
Participant exclusion criteria1. Pregnant and lactating women
2. Smokers
3. Those who had used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, mouthwash or vitamin supplements within 3 months prior to the study
Recruitment start date01/08/2023
Recruitment end date26/11/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Iraq

Study participating centre

Azadi Dental Center
Periodontics Department
Erbil
44001
Iraq

Sponsor information

Hawler Medical University
Research council

Flkay zraa
Erbil
44001
Iraq

Phone +964 (0)7503319493
Email info@khcms.edu.krd
Website https://www.khcms.edu.krd
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02a6g3h39

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Hawler Medical University
Government organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
Zankoy Hewlêrî Pizîşkî, زانكۆی ههولێری پزیشكی, جامعة هولیر الطبیة, HMU
Location
Iraq

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryPublished as a supplement to the results publication
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 31/12/2024 08/01/2025 Yes No

Editorial Notes

08/01/2025: Publication reference added.
01/10/2024: Study's existence confirmed by Kurdistan Regional Government.