Summary: | Context: Tobacco usage is associated with the derailment of antioxidant status. Salivary studies for diagnostic potential as a biofluid. Saliva may provide acumen into disease pathogenesis.
Aims: To determine the influence of tobacco on salivary superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) enzyme levels in individuals with and without tobacco habits.
Settings and Design: One mL of unstimulated whole saliva was collected, centrifuged immediately at 2000 RPM, and stored at 4°C for analysis. The supernatant was aspirated and assayed.
Methods and Material: Eighty males subjects aged 25–40 years were selected and included 20 controls, 20 smokers, 20 chewers, and 20 with both habits. The saliva samples were collected and SOD, GPX, CAT levels were analyzed using UV spectrophotometric assay.
Statistical Analysis Used: Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison taking the probability value of P ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant using SPSS 20.0 version.
Results: SOD, CAT, GPX enzyme levels in the saliva were significantly lower in those with tobacco habit than in the controls (P < 0.05). A significant correlation existed between SOD, CAT, GPX levels, and the type of the habit. The antioxidant status is affected by the impact of tobacco.
Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of saliva as an easy noninvasive tool in diagnosing patients who are more prone to precancerous lesions and conditions, and its importance in patient education and motivation programs for tobacco habit cessation.
|