Estimation of serum superoxide dismutase and serum malondialdehyde in oral submucous fibrosis: a clinical and biochemical study.

Background: To estimate the level of lipid peroxidation product (MDA) and the activities of antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the correlation of these parameters in Oral Submucous fibrosis (OSF).

Aims: Estimation of MDA and SOD levels in OSF patients and controls.

Settings And Design: Patients above 15 years of age, who were diagnosed as OSF based upon thorough history, clinical examination and histopathological examination without any underlying systemic diseases, were included in the present study. Equal number of healthy subjects without any deleterious habits and without any clinically obvious oral lesions or systemic diseases were selected as the control group.

Materials And Methods: The estimation of MDA in serum was done by thiobarbituric acid reactive species method. SOD was assayed by inhibition and autoxidation of adrenaline method.

Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed with Student's t-test.

Results: Comparison of MDA, SOD among the OSF group and control group showed statistically significant increased levels of malondialdehyde and decreased levels of superoxide dismutase among the OSF groups. Significant changes were not seen in MDA and SOD levels between the different grades of OSF.

Conclusions: From the present study, estimation of lipid peroxidation like MDA was done, which showed increased levels in the OSF group compared to the control group and antioxidant enzyme levels like SOD showed decreased levels in the OSF group compared to the control group. These can be considered as a subject of interest for their possible role in many of the precancerous and cancerous conditions.