Impact of oral biotin supplementation on periodontal disease progression and therapy in male rats.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of oral biotin supplementation on periodontal tissues using a standardized in vivo rat model under three conditions: periodontal health, untreated experimental periodontitis, and tissue response following mechanical periodontal instrumentation.

DESIGN

One hundred and forty male Wistar rats received daily oral gavage with biotin (0.4 mL of a 5 mg/mL solution) or vehicle for 30 days. Experimental periodontitis was induced in 98 animals by ligature placement around the mandibular first molar. Of these, 70 animals remained untreated, while 28 underwent mechanical periodontal instrumentation 15 days after disease induction. The remaining 42 animals served as healthy controls. After euthanasia, hemimandibles were evaluated by microcomputed tomography, histological and histometric analyses, Picrosirius Red staining, and immunohistochemistry for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, osteocalcin, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

RESULTS

Biotin supplementation improved trabecular bone thickness, reduced bone porosity, and increased bone fill in the furcation region, particularly after mechanical periodontal instrumentation. Enhanced collagen fiber maturation was observed across all experimental conditions. Animals receiving biotin after instrumentation exhibited reduced osteoclastic activity, while increased osteocalcin expression was detected only in healthy periodontal tissues. In addition, biotin supplementation was associated with reduced immunolabeling of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α following mechanical periodontal instrumentation. In contrast, no significant differences in the inflammatory profile were observed under healthy conditions or during active experimental periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

Biotin supplementation favorably modulated periodontal bone and connective tissue responses, with more pronounced effects following mechanical periodontal therapy.