Abstract:

Background and Aim:  Passive cigarette smoking or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is a major public health concern. Children are the most vulnerable group to ETS exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between passive smoking and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and salivary lipid peroxidation in adolescents.

Materials and Methods: In this historical cohort study sixty adolescents aged 12 to 15 years old were selected. The subjects were assigned into two groups of healthy non-smokers (control) and passive smokers (case) and they were matched for age and sex. Unstimulated saliva was collected with spiting method, and then TAC and salivary lipid peroxidation were measured with FRAP and TBARS methods respectively. Statistical analysis was done using independent t-test.

Results: TAC was significantly lower in passive smokers (1218.8±511.5 µmol) than in nonsmokers (1490.5±379.2 µmol) (p=0.023). Salivary lipid peroxidation level was higher in passive smokers (14.6±0.6 µmol) than in nonsmokers (14.4±0.8 µmol) but it the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.176). 

Conclusions: The exposure to cigarette smoke can cause a reduction in the salivary Total Antioxidant Capacity.