Salivary ascorbic acid levels in betel quid chewers: A biochemical study.
BACKGROUND
Quid chewing practice has been a part of our tradition since centuries with little known evidence of oral cancer. However, recent trends show a rise in occurrence of oral cancer often associated with tobacco and arecanut usage. Ascorbic acid is an important salivary antioxidant. Betel leaf which is used in quid is known to contain ascorbic acid.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to assess the salivary levels of ascorbic acid in traditional quid chewers so as to determine whether the betel leaf has protective antioxidant action.


METHODS
Salivary ascorbic acid levels of 60 subjects were estimated using the Dinitrophenyl hydrazine method.


RESULTS
The results revealed that quid chewers who used betel leaf had higher salivary ascorbic acid content compared to nonbetel leaf quid chewers. This could possibly be due to the protective antioxidants in the betel leaf.
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Science, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shishir R
SR
Shetty
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Science, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Subhas
S
Babu
Department of Biochemistry, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Suchetha
S
Kumari
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Science, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Rajendra
R
Prasad
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Science, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Supriya
S
Bhat
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Science, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
K A
KA
Fazil
Antioxidant; ascorbic acid; betel quid; piper betel