Banca de DEFESA: ELOISA CESARIO FERNANDES

Effect of Whey Protein on Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Rats

Orthodontics; Whey protein; Tooth movement techniques; Rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dietary whey protein (WP)supplementation on orthodontic tooth movement in rats. Methods: In this randomized, controlled, in vivo experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats underwent orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) for 21 days and were randomly assigned to two groups: control (water;n=12)and experimental (WP;n=12).Both groups received daily treatment by oral gavage. Tooth movement was assessed using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), while the alveolar bone microarchitecture and histological characteristics of the periodontal ligament were evaluated by morphological analyses. Results: No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding body weight, biochemical and hematological parameters, tooth movement, periodontal ligament thickness, or alveolar bone microarchitecture (p>0.05) Both groups exhibited changes consistent with alveolar bone remodeling, characterized by increased bone volume fraction (BV/TV)and trabecular thickness, as well as reduced porosity and trabecular separation(p<0.05) Histological analysis revealed that the WP-supplemented group exhibited lower intensity of periodontal phenomena in the pressure area compared with the control group(p=0.0108), whereas no differences were observed in the tension area. Conclusions: WP supplementation did not affect tooth movement, alveolar bone microarchitecture,or the systemic parameters evaluated, but it reduced the intensity of periodontal changes in the pressure region, suggesting a potential mmodulatory effect on the tissue response during orthodontic tooth movement.