title: Evaluation of salivary catalase, vitamin C, and alpha-amylase in smokers and non-smokers: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Saliva and its defence systems such as antioxidants and minerals are very important in the pathogenesis of different diseases. Cigarette smoking has many destructive effects. Oxidative stresses play an important role in the side effects of smoking. This study assessed the effect of cigarette smoking on salivary levels of catalase, vitamin C, and α-amylase.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study was carried out in Hamadan, Iran, on 510 subjects; 259 subjects were smokers (the exposed group) and 251 were non-smokers (the unexposed group). Five microliters of unstimulated saliva was collected by spitting method. Catalase, vitamin C, and α-amylase salivary levels were determined by spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzed with t-test using STATA 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin C level in smokers was significantly lower than that in non-smokers. The salivary catalase levels were lower and α-amylase levels were higher in smokers, but the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.416 and P = 0.265, respectively). Smokers were younger than non-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking resulted in a change in salivary antioxidant levels. Changes in antioxidant levels can influence the deleterious effects of smoking on oral mucosa; it might also indicate systemic changes and changes in the serum levels of oxidative agents. Further studies are necessary to understand the mechanisms and real effects of smoking, to determine the benefits of supplementary antioxidants for treatment and to reduce the dangerous side effects of smoking.
authors: Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.|Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Ahmadi-Motamayel
authors: Department of Oral Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Parisa
authors: P
authors: Falsafi
authors: Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Taghi
authors: MT
authors: Goodarzi
authors: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Jalal
authors: J
authors: Poorolajal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: catalase; saliva; smoking; vitamin C; α-amylase