Analysis of Salivary Micronutrients in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder

Background: Sound nutritional habits and a sufficient supply of essential vitamins and minerals are of considerable importance for oral health. This study was aimed to evaluate whether salivary micronutrients play any role in diagnosis or prognostic estimation of Oral Sub mucous Fibrosis (OSF), one of the oral potentially malignant disorders. Materials and methods: In this case control study, 40 histopathologically confirmed cases of OSF were compared with 44 age and sex matched healthy controls. Salivary samples collected from the participants were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant collected was stored at -20° C. The saliva was then analysed for micronutrients. Zinc and Cu level were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer and Fe using spectrophotometer. Results: The mean age of patients with OSF was 38.28±2.23 years. Among them, 31 (77.5%) were males and 9 (22.5%) were females. The mean salivary Cu values of OSF group (127.30±6.77 μg/dl) has increased compared to that of controls (112.68±7.95 μg/dl). The mean salivary Zn values of OSF group (116.80±9.93 μg/dl) was significantly decreased (P <0.01) compared to that of controls (146.76±9.17 μg/dl). The mean salivary Fe values of OSF group (49.28±3.25 μg/dl) too reduced on comparison with controls (59.34±4.50 μg/dl). Conclusions: It is important that doctors and other health professionals are aware of the nutritional essentiality of micronutrients, and for the situations where an increased intake may lead to clinical benefit. The present study highlighted the importance of micronutrients in oral health and their role in diagnosis or prognostic estimation of OSF.