Introduction: Carbamazepine is one of the widely used anti-epileptic medications associated with elevated fracture rates Lactoferrin is a secretory glycoprotein with iron binding capacity and one of the transferrin family of proteins. It is naturally found in colostrum and milk in the highest concentrations. It is found to have protective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial actions.
Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the protective influence of lactoferrin on the alveolar bone damage mediated by carbamazepine in rats.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy female Wistar albino rats were randomly distributed into 3 groups, 8 rats each. Group I-control, rats were given a daily dose of saline. Group II- carbamazepine, rats received carbamazepine 75mg/kg/day orally for 5 weeks. Group III-carbamazepine and lactoferrin, rats received carbamazepine 75mg/kg/day in addition to lactoferrin 100 mg/kg/day orally for 5 weeks. After euthanasia, the mandibles of all rats were collected and prepared to be evaluated by light and scanning electron microscopy, histomorphometry, and energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis.
Results: The alveolar bone in the carbamazepine group showed marked porosity and trabecular thinning in comparison to the control and lactoferrin groups demonstrated by both light and scanning electron microscopy. The bone volume ratio values were significantly higher in carbamazepine and lactoferrin and control groups than in the carbamazepine group. The percentage of calcium mineralization detected by Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in lactoferrin group was comparable to the control and significantly higher than carbamazepine group.
Conclusions: Lactoferrin supplementation could successfully reduce the porosity provoked by anti-epileptic medications in the alveolar bone.