title: Estimation of copper in saliva and areca nut products and its correlation with histological grades of oral submucous fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to estimate the copper levels in saliva of patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and different areca nut products and its correlation with different histological grades of OSF.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 60 individuals, 30 OSF patients and 30 non-OSF individuals. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected, and copper analysis was performed using colorimetric method. The commercial areca nut products used by the patients were acquired and subjected to copper analysis through the atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. Oral biopsies were performed for OSF patients for histopathological correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean salivary copper level was 27.023 μg/dl in OSF patients when compared with 8.393 μg/dl in non-OSF individuals (P < 0.005). The mean copper content in different areca nut products was 13.313 ppm (P < 0.005). Comparison of copper content in different areca nut products with salivary copper levels of OSF patients showed negative correlation (P < 0.853). Comparison of salivary copper levels between different histological grades of OSF yielded a statistically significant association between grades I and III (P < 0.005) and grades II and III OSF (P < 0.019). Comparison of copper content in areca nut products and different histological grades of OSF yielded weak negative statistical correlation (r = -0.116).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite high copper content in areca nut products, the observations yielded a negative correlation with different histological grades of OSF. This further raises a doubt about the copper content in areca nut as an etiological factor for this crippling disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Dr Syamala Reddy Dental College Hospital & Research Centre, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Faraz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Vidya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manohar
authors.forename: Maji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Arishiya Fairozekhan
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Thapasum
authors.forename: Shamaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Bibi Halima
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Shamaz
authors.forename: Neevan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Souza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000737:chemistry*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003300:Copper
keywords: areca nut; copper; oral submucous fibrosis; saliva