Vitamin E may help protect dental enamel against erosion, Study finds

The acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) was previously formed in situ for 2 h. Subsequently, the bovine enamel blocks were treated in vitro according to following solutions: G1–palm oil; G2–85% tocotrienol solution; G3–oily vitamin E; G4–oily vitamin A; G5–deionized water (negative control); G6-stannous-containing solution (Elmex® Erosion Protection Dental Rinse) (positive control).

After application of the treatment solutions (500 µl, 30 s), the blocks were immersed in 0.5% citric acid (pH 2.4) during 30 s (initial erosion). The response variable was the percentage of surface hardness loss. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher's Test (p < 0.05)

The following findings were analyzed and noted-

1. The positive control (G6), palm oil (G1) and oily vitamin E (G3) groups presented the lowest percentage of surface hardness loss, and were statistically different from the negative group (G5) (p < 0.05), and no differences were found between these three groups.
2. The 85% tocotrienol solution (G2) and oily vitamin A groups (G4) were not different to the negative control group.

Hence, the authors concluded that "Vitamin E presented similar preventive effect to a commercial mouthwash stannous-containing solution (Elmex® Erosion Protection) against initial erosion and, it can be considered as a promising natural alternative for the formulations of solutions aiming to prevent erosive tooth wear."

The authors further inferred the following-

1. Palm oil showed protective effect against enamel erosion as previously published.
2. Vitamin E presented similar anti-erosive effect to palm oil and stannous solution.
3. Vitamin E is probably the main component of palm oil in preventing enamel erosion.
4. Vitamin E can be a natural option for the development of anti-erosive products.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103781