Basavaraj Kallapur1, Karthikeyan Ramalingam2, Bastian3, Ahmed Mujib4, Amitabha Sarkar2, Sathya Sethuraman2
1Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, Al-jabal Al-gharbi University, Gharian, Libya.
2Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Surendera Dental College and Research Institute, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, India.
3Mahe Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahe, Puduchery, India.
4Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, India.
DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.117006
ABSTRACT
Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the difference in sodium, potassium, total protein in whole saliva in diabetic smokers, diabetic nonsmokers and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Nonstimulated saliva samples were collected from a group of diabetic smokers, diabetic nonsmokers, and controls. Supernatant after centrifugation was used to determine the levels of sodium, potassium, and total protein by using semiautomatic analyzer. Results: There exists a statistical difference in the levels of potassium and total protein between diabetic smokers, nondiabetic smokers, and controls. Difference in the levels of sodium is only significant with nondiabetic smokers and controls. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is known to alter the composition of saliva. The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare the levels of salivary potassium, sodium, and total protein in smoker diabetic patients and nondiabetic smokers and controls, and to explore potential of salivary electrolytes [Na+, K+] and total proteins as markers. The estimated values of salivary constituents add to the data already recorded in Indian population. However, further studies using large samples are required to evaluate the findings in our study.
Keywords: Diabetes, potassium, saliva, smoking, total protein.
