Comparison of Total Antioxidant Capacity of Saliva in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Smoking is a harmful habit that causes adverse effects on oral health and plays the most important role in cancer, precancerous lesions and periodontal disease. Saliva is the first fluid that is exposed to cigarette smoke. Salivary antioxidant system plays an important role in its anti-cancer potential therefore; this study was designed to compare the antioxidant content of saliva of smokers and non-smokers. In this cross- sectional study unstimulated saliva of 50 male smokers and 50 male non-smokers who were free of oral disease were collected by spitting method and total antioxidant capacity of their saliva was evaluated by FRAP method. Data were analysed by SPSS software version 21 and independed t test was used to compare the two groups. The average total antioxidant capacity of saliva in smokers and non-smokers were 489.95±203.82 and 589.48±226.05, respectively which were significantly different (P=0.008). Based on the results, smoking can reduce the total antioxidant capacity of saliva.