Biomedical Research

Free radical mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in pathogenesis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma ( OSCC). The present study was conducted in saliva to estimate the level of lipid peroxidation product- malondialdehyde ( MDA) and antioxidants uric acid, vitamin C, and total antioxidant activity in 25 OSCC patients. The results were compared with age and sex matched 25 smokers and 25 normal healthy control subjects. pH of the saliva was also measured in all the study groups. Highly significant increase in MDA and decrease in antioxidants was observed in OSCC patients and smokers. pH of saliva decreased significantly in smokers. This study suggests that there is increased oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanism is impaired in OSCC patients and smokers. Supplementation of antioxidants might be beneficial to reduce the oxidative stress in OSCC patients and smokers.

Author(s): Arathi A, Benedicta D?Souza, Sayanthan M, Raksha S, Buthesh GA, Jisha K, Hegde MC, Vivian D?Souza.
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