The Adjunctive Role of Vitamin C on Pigment Recurrence (Randomized Clinical and Histological Trial)

March 9, 2024 updated by: Eman Osama Mohamed Hashem, Ain Shams University

Patient Response and Recurrence Rate Following Adjunctive Intra-Mucosal or Topical Ascorbic Acid To Gingival Depigmentation Using Surgical Scalpel Technique: (Randomized Clinical and Histological Trial)

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the role of vitamin C on recurrence of gingival pigment after patients who are healthy and esthetically concerned with it received surgical removal of this pigment. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

  • Pigment recurrence after one year.
  • Patient satisfaction and histological response of tissues.

Participants will be asked to come on regular follow up visits one group will receive vitamin C injection other will be asked to apply topical vitamin C on a specific regimen.

Researcher will compare the groups who received injectable vitamin C with those who topically applied it to see the effect of each.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Esthetic dentistry is currently concerned with the pivotal role of the gingival tissue along with the teeth color, shape and position to achieve a harmonious attractive smile.

Physiological gingival hyperpigmentation is attributed to the increased activity of melanocytes rather than the increased number; consequently the gingiva in these individuals reveals increased density of melanophores. There are several pigments that contribute to physiological gingival hyper pigmentation, the main contributory pigment is melanin that is synthesized by melanocytes. Melanocytes form melanosomes granules from the amino acid tyrosine converting it into a molecule called dehydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) through a hydroxylation process catalyzed by tryosinase enzyme.

Surgical and non-surgical approaches have been utilized to treat gingival hyperpigmentation. De-epithelizing of the target region is the main concept for most of the surgical interventions using different techniques as de-epithelizing using surgical blade or bur abrasion, cryosurgery and laser.

Among the minimal invasive non-surgical approaches of treating gingival hyperpigmentation was vitamin C that yielded promising results in the previous few years as proved in different clinical trials and have been recently documented in systemic review by .Vitamin C binds to melanin effectively once introduced into the tissues with a consequent deficient in calcium and copper affecting both melanin formation and transportation.

One of the main challenges after treating gingival hyperpigmentation is pigment recurrence. Different theories tried to explain the reasons for recurrence, some attributed it to the three dimensional shape of rete pegs, others attributed it to the migration theory and capability of cells to migrate from existing neighboring areas . Recurrence of pigment had shown to be inevitable occurring with nearly equal ranges in the previously illustrated techniques.

Sheel et al illustrated no recurrence of gingival pigmentation was observed after 9 months follow up with the topical application of vitamin C after surgical gingival depigmentation in a case report. This case report highlighted the ancillary role of vitamin C in decreasing the recurrence rate of gingival pigment after depigmentation.

According to the researcher knowledge, up to this time, there were no further studies investigating the long-term effect of using vitamin C to gain gingival color stability after depigmentation. This study was conducted to compare efficacy of vitamin C either locally injected or topically applied after surgical gingival depigmentation on recurrence of pigment and patient satisfaction over one-year follow up.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
24

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt
        • Recruiting
        • Faculty AinShams University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Both genders aged from 18-40. Systemically free patients from any disease as evidenced by the health questionnaire, using modified Cornell medical index and classified as ASA class I.

Patients who were diagnosed to have physiological gingival melanin pigmentation on the maxillary or mandibular keratinized gingiva with Dummett oral pigmentation score 2 or more.

Patients with thick gingival phenotype ≥ 1.5 mm.

Exclusion criteria:

Pregnant or lactating females Smokers (water pipe, cigar or cigarette smoking). Patients taking or have taken any drug that may cause gingival depigmentation as chloroquine, minocycline, zidovudine, chlorpromazine, ketoconazole and bleomycin .

Any cause for supplemental intake of vitamin C. Reported allergy to ascorbic acid or to any of its derivatives as reported in health questionnaire .

Clinically diagnosed periodontitis regarding the following criteria probing depth >3mm, clinical attachment loss ≥ 1mm and bleeding on probing > 10% .

Patients with poor oral hygiene, incompliant to treatment and persistence gingival inflammation after phase I periodontal therapy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Intramucosal vitamin C injection
After surgical gingival depigmentation, injectable vitamin C (Redox C 500 mg) using insulin syringe(29 Gauge 1cc 0.33mm x 8mm 5/16 needle) is applied at gingival sites 0.1 ml for each point that should be 3 mm. The regimen is done once weekly for a month then once a month for additional 5 months.
Procedure: Injectable applied vitamin C
Surgical gingival depigmentation is done for all participants, after then they receive injectable vitamin C
Active Comparator: (Vitamin C topical gel
After surgical gingival depigmentation, patients in this group apply ascorbic acid containing gel prepared by Nawah Scientific Research Center. The micro emulsion was prepared by mixing tween 20 (4.66% w/w) as surfactant and isopropanol (2.3% w/w) as co-surfactant using magnetic stirring then diluted drop-wise with Vitamin C solution in water (10% w/w). The formed micro emulsion was then converted into gel using Poloxamer 407 (20% w/w) that was added at 4°C under continuous magnetic stirring
Procedure: Topical applied Vitamin C
Surgical gingival depigmentation is done for all participants, after then they are instructed to apply topical vitamin C
Placebo Comparator: Control group
Surgical gingival depigmentation is carried out for these patients
Procedure: Surgical depigmentation only
Surgical gingival depigmentation only without any drug

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pigmentation scores
Time Frame: baseline (immediately before surgical depigmentation), one month, three months, six months, nine months and finally after 12 months post operatively
Dummet oral pigmentation index (DOPI) ,score (0-3), 0 = pink tissue [no clinical pigmentation]; 1 = mild light brown tissue [mild clinical pigmentation]; 2 = medium brown or mixed brown and pink tissue [moderate clinical pigmentation]; or 3 = deep brown/ blue-black tissue (heavy clinical pigmentation)
baseline (immediately before surgical depigmentation), one month, three months, six months, nine months and finally after 12 months post operatively
Assessment of pigment surface area (SA)
Time Frame: baseline (immediately before surgical depigmentation), one month, three months, six months, nine months and finally after 12 months post operatively
Standardized photos are taken and introduced into image J software after cropping interest area to calculate surface area of the pigment
baseline (immediately before surgical depigmentation), one month, three months, six months, nine months and finally after 12 months post operatively
Assessment of pigment intensity in terms of mean darkness value (MDV)
Time Frame: baseline (immediately before surgical depigmentation), one month, three months, six months, nine months and finally after 12 months post operatively
Standardized photos are taken and introduced into image J software after cropping interest area to calculate intensity of pigment
baseline (immediately before surgical depigmentation), one month, three months, six months, nine months and finally after 12 months post operatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient satisfaction
Time Frame: After 12 months

Satisfaction questionnaire Question Scoring

Was the treatment painful?

1. no pain; 2. Mild pain; 3. Severe pain

Did you notice a cosmetic change 1 week after the treatment? 1. not at all; 2. moderate; 3. marked

Did you notice a cosmetic change 6 week after the treatment?

1. not at all; 2. moderate; 3. marked

Did the treatment your expectations? 1. no; 2. yes; 3. Over and above

Would you repeat the treatment if necessary?

1. no; 2. yes; 3. Over and above
After 12 months
Histological response
Time Frame: baseline - 6 months -after a year
Biopsies taken and stained with Fontana-Masson stain to calculate area fraction of the stained cells
baseline - 6 months -after a year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Ain Shams University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Hala K. Abd-El-Gaber, Professor, Professor of Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis and Periodontology Faculty of Dentistry - Ain Shams University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 9, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 9, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 15, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 15, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 9, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 230620

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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