Effects of Protein Supplement on Oral Health Status of Professional Bodybuilders of Indore City – A Comparative Analytical Study

Background: Protein supplements are widely consumed by professional bodybuilders to support muscle growth and enhance performance. However, the impact of these supplements on oral health remains underexplored. Aim: This study aims to evaluate and compare the oral health status of bodybuilders consuming protein supplements with bodybuilders not consuming any supplements. Materials and Methods: An analytical comparative study was conducted among 100 male professional bodybuilders aged 20–35 years, consisting of 50 bodybuilders with protein supplement intake ( n = 50) and of 50 bodybuilders with no supplement intake ( n = 50). Oral health status was assessed using oral hygiene index, plaque index, gingival index, DMFT and Community Periodontal Index scoring according to the World Health Organization Oral Health Assessment Form for adults (2013). Data were analyzed using unpaired t -tests and Chi-square tests, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Protein supplement users exhibited significantly higher mean scores in oral hygiene (Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified) (1.97 ± 0.66), plaque score (1.22 ± 0.38), and DMFT score (0.48 ± 0.73) compared to nonusers ( P < 0.05). Among the supplement users, the caries prevalence was 34% and gingival bleeding was 38% which was higher to non-users. Lower prevalence of pockets (22%) was seen among users. Bodybuilders using protein supplements had increased risk of caries, gingival bleeding, and calculus by 2.7 times, 2.4 times, and 2.7 times, respectively ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study concludes that bodybuilders consuming protein supplements had significantly higher dental caries and poorer oral hygiene scores compared to bodybuilders not consuming any supplements.