In a new study, researchers found the changes in the levels of cytokines in the saliva of people who frequently use alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.
Cytokines are proteins released by the cells of the immune system to regulate the mechanism of inflammation against infections.
When cytokine levels are altered in the oral cavity, they can cause chronic inflammatory processes that can lead to severe inflammatory pathologies, such as periodontitis or even oral cancer.
The research was conducted by a team at the CEU Cardenal Herrera University.
The team examined 50 patients who consume alcohol, tobacco and caffeine for long periods of time and analyzed for the first time the alterations to the levels of three types of cytokines.
They found that frequent consumers of large amounts of alcohol and tobacco show a greater presence of the three studied cytokines in their saliva, which predisposes them to suffer chronic inflammatory, periodontal or tumor diseases in their gums and teeth
Specifically, we detected that interleukin-1 alpha was the highest in alcohol consumers, and interferon-gamma was higher among smokers.
Regarding frequent consumers of products with caffeine, both coffee, and soft drinks, the team found the levels of two cytokines are higher in their saliva than in the saliva of people who do not consume these products with caffeine.
This pilot study is the first to show that the levels of cytokines in saliva are altered by the prolonged consumption of the three substances.
This type of patient has a higher risk of suffering oral inflammatory responses from their immune system in their mouth which, if they become chronic, can cause severe diseases.
These include periodontitis, an infection of the gums that harms the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports the teeth. And also, the appearance of carcinogenic tumors.
The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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