Comparison of salivary total antioxidant levels in male smokers and non-smokers according to their personality types.

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking is a major global health problem, associated with various oral diseases, such as oral cancers. Salivary antioxidants may play an important role in fighting against radicals and the oxidative components of cigarettes, which can cause DNA damage. Furthermore, psychological stress, which occurs more often in individuals with type A personality, affects plasma antioxidant levels.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to compare the levels of salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) between smokers and non-smokers according to their personality types.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, saliva samples were collected from 40 male smokers (with ≥0.1 pack-years) and 40 male non-smokers. After centrifugation, the samples were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Pearson's correlation, Welch's t-test and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The TAC of saliva in smokers was significantly lower than in non-smokers (p = 0.019). Type A and type B smokers showed no significant decrease in TAC (p > 0.05 and p = 0.05, respectively) as compared to type A and type B non-smokers, respectively. Type A smokers reported a higher number of cigarettes smoked per day as compared to smokers with type B personality (p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking cigarettes was associated with a significant decrease in salivary TAC. However, the personality type did not affect salivary TAC in the present study.