title: Estimation and comparison of salivary immunoglobulin A levels in tobacco chewers, tobacco smokers and normal subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in tobacco chewers, tobacco smokers and normal subjects and to compare the salivary IgA levels among tobacco chewers and tobacco smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 80 subjects (tobacco users), 40 tobacco chewers and 40 tobacco smokers. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all tobacco users and 40 healthy age- and gender-matched non-tobacco users as control group. The study and control groups were divided into four subgroups based on age range. Salivary IgA levels were estimated by single radial immunodiffusion assay (SRID). All data were analysed using statistical software and to compare the results in three groups, single-factor analysis of variance was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean salivary IgA level in control group was 16.76 ± 1.37 mg/dl (SD); in tobacco chewers it was 7.89 ± 0.61 mg/dl (SD) and in tobacco smokers it was 6.55 ± 0.99 mg/dl (SD). The salivary IgA levels were decreased in tobacco chewers and tobacco smokers compared with the controls. Among the tobacco users, tobacco smokers had much reduced salivary IgA levels compared to tobacco chewers. All of these results were highly significant (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that tobacco chewers and tobacco smokers had decreased salivary IgA levels and among tobacco users, tobacco smokers had much reduced salivary IgA levels compared to tobacco chewers in unstimulated whole saliva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. bharatidoni@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bharati R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Doni
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Basavaraj V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Peerapur
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadaganchi
authors.forename: Kishore G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007155:Immunologic Factors