Evaluation of the Relationship Between Bruxism and Tryptophan Metabolites

Bruxism is a common health problem that occurs throughout life and has a prevalence of 9% to 31% among adults. This common muscle disorder, characterized by teeth grinding or clamping, which can occur during sleep or day, is considered multifactorial with potential effects on the central nervous system. A possible relationship between mental health and bruxism has been investigated due to the indication of psychological factors such as anxiety and stress at the onset of bruxism. It has been reported that when the presence of mental disorders causes changes in the regulation of the central nervous system, they can act as a trigger point for bruxism.

Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders studied and are expected to be the most common chronic condition by 2050. The emerging field of nutritional psychiatry offers some opportunities for clinical intervention for individuals suffering from depression and anxiety. L-tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, is expected to contribute to the correction of depressive and anxious moods.

The primary catabolic pathway of tryptophan is the pathway of kynurenine, which is responsible for about 95-99% of tryptophan metabolism in the body. Tryptophan turns into kynurenine in the kynurenine pathway and is divided into two pathways. The first forms kynurenic acid, while the other forms 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), 3-hydroxyanthranylic acid (3-HAA), and quinolinic acid (QA), respectively. The first pathway is considered neuroprotective, while the second pathway is known as neurotoxic.

In studies trying to explain the link between tryptophan and its metabolites and depression, they have emphasized that depression is caused by an imbalance in the kynurenine pathway and that the amount of quinolinic acid, which is neurotoxic, increases, while peripheral kynurenine, which is neuroprotective, decreases. It has been shown that the neurotoxic metabolites formed in the kynurenine itself and its pathway may be associated with depression and anxiety. There are researchers who think that changes in these parameters and their proportions to each other indicate different psychological states.

Changes in serum levels of these metabolites in cases of stress and anxiety have been supported by the studies mentioned above. Although most authorities assume that bruxism is based on psychological factors, the studies supporting them are usually anxiety and stress-focused survey studies based on subjective data. This assumption; researchers could not find a study comparing it with objective data. This study aims to present a possible relationship between bruxism and tryptophan metabolites in volunteer individuals with and without bruxism. The researchers' initial hypothesis is that "Changes in tryptophan and catabolites play a role in the etiology of bruxism."