An analysis of the relationship between dietary pattern changes and temporomandibular joint inflammation in diabetic rats

 The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the most commonly used joint in the human body. Recent studies have shown pathologic relationships between inflammation, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Chewing disorder is a significant sign of dysfunction in the masticatory system. This study investigated dietary pattern changes in response to TMJ inflammation in diabetic rats.

 This experimental study was carried out on 30 male rats. The rats were fed concentrated 20-mg dietary tablets. Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) was used to induce TMJ inflammation and streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce diabetes. The animals were randomly divided into three groups (n=10), including group I (CFA+STZ), group II (healthy rats+CFA), and group III (healthy rats, no injection). Parameters such as overall food intake, food intake duration, food intake frequency, and the interval between meals were recorded in a checklist and analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (P<0.05).

 The results showed no significant difference between groups in overall food intake and food intake frequency on days 0 and 1, but this difference was significant from day 2 to day 7. Regarding the time and end of food intake, there was a significant difference between the three groups from day 1 to day 7, but this difference was not significant on day zero.

 Dietary pattern changes were similar in the diabetic TMJ inflammation and TMJ inflammation groups. These changes can be used as a behavioral marker for TMJ inflammation in rats.