title: Comparison of superoxide dismutase activity in saliva of smokers and nonsmokers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baharvand
authors.forename: Ahmad Ghaem
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Maghami
authors.forename: Somayyeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azimi
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bastani
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadieh
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghibakhsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013482:Superoxide Dismutase