Association of Body Iron Stores with the Metabolic Activity of Oral Rinse

Abstract

Iron plays a crucial role in the transport of oxygen, and electrons along with its contribution to cellular bioenergetics in different tissues including the brain. Recent findings suggest that iron deficiency contributes to abnormal intellectual performance and cognitive dec.ne. Cellular metabolic activities play a vital role in neuronal function and the smooth execution of cognitive processes. This study was designed to investigate the bioenergetics of oral cavity cells in healthy and anemic young females to uncover its link with iron deficiency and survey-based data on cognition. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire-based assessment of cognitive deficit score (CDS), depression and stress, anxiety, and depression of the participating individuals was performed. Furthermore, the iron status of the volunteers was investigated by measuring blood ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. The metabolic activity of oral rinse was analyzed using an MTT assay. Interestingly a negative correlation between depression, stress, and anxiety with hemoglobin and ferritin was observed. Importantly, there was a positive association between CDS and Hb. Moreover, we compared anthropometric parameters with CDS which revealed a positive association of BMI with CDS, stress, anxiety, and depression, highlighting a probable involvement of obesity in these psychological conditions. Lastly, the metabolic activity of the formed element in oral rinse tended to be lower in anemic subjects. Altogether, this data suggests unfavorable consequences of iron deficiency on cognition and the involvement of stress, anxiety, and depression as contributing factors toward cognitive inefficiency. Moreover, it also proposes the use of oral rinse metabolic activity as a surrogate marker for iron deficiency-linked conditions. Keywords: Metabolic activity, Cognitive deficiency, Hemoglobin, Iron deficiency, Stress, Anxiety Depression