Influence of amalgam fillings on Hg levels and total antioxidant activity in plasma of healthy donors

Authors

  • M Pizzichini Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena
  • M Fonzi Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy
  • A Gasparoni Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena
  • M Mencarelli Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy
  • G Rocchi Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy
  • V Kaitsas Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy
  • L Fonzi Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy

Abstract

In order to evaluate the influence of mercury (Hg) levels on antioxidant power in human plasma, 26 healthy people were evaluated by a dentist and their plasma analyzed for Hg content by atomic absorption and total antioxidant activity (TAA) by FRAP method. Hg plasma concentration correlated with number of amalgam restorations, suggesting that Hg released from fillings is a source of Hg in non-occupational exposed people. Fish consumption, in fact, showed no influence on Hg plasma levels, perhaps because Italian subjects examined in the present group used low quantity of fish at week or kinds of fish with light contamination. TAA negatively correlated with Hg plasma revealing a pro-oxidant role of Hg released from amalgam fillings.

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Published

2008-12-20

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 2 (2001)

Section

Original Research Articles

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5. The copyright of the article is transferred from the authors to the Bulletin du Groupement International pour la Recherche Scientifique en Stomatologie et Odontologie upon acceptance of the manuscript.