Salivary total antioxidant capacity in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients—a clinical and biochemical study amongst tobacco smokers

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of smoking and diabetes mellitus individually and combined on the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of saliva in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study consisted of four groups, one control and three study groups, each with 20 subjects. Salivary and serum samples were collected from all the groups, which were further subjected to biochemical analysis. The observations of the study were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software version 12. The level of salivary TAC decreases secondary to diabetes mellitus and smoking. As the duration of diabetes mellitus increases, the level of total antioxidants decreases. Correlation of salivary TAC with Russell’s index had a negative correlation. Smoking has a synergistic effect on diabetes mellitus in reducing the salivary total antioxidant level. Further research should be devoted to the possible benefits of supplementation with antioxidant supplements. Saliva is considered to be a representative of serum and salivary analysis is simple and noninvasive. From the clinical standpoint, it may be reasonable to conclude that salivary TAC can be a useful marker to assess the oxidative stress, as an indicator of progression of diabetes mellitus.