Comparison of superoxide dismutase activity in saliva of smokers and nonsmokers.
BACKGROUND
Considering the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as one of the most important salivary antioxidant enzymes, this study was performed to compare the level of this enzyme in smokers and nonsmokers.


METHODS
Unstimulated saliva of 60 volunteers (30 smokers and 30 nonsmokers) was collected. The activity of salivary SOD was measured in each group and compared.


RESULTS
The mean value of superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in the smoking group (P < 0.001), while no detectable activity level was found in nonsmokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Cigarette smoke leads to an elevation in salivary superoxide dismutase activity.
Baharvand
Maryam
M
Department of Oral Medicine, Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
Maghami
Ahmad Ghaem
AG
Azimi
Somayyeh
S
Bastani
Hosein
H
Ahmadieh
Azadeh
A
Taghibakhsh
Mehrdad
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis*
D013482:Superoxide Dismutase