Serum levels of total antioxidant status, nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common inflammatory ulcerative conditions of oral cavity with uncertain etiology. Several studies have reported that oxidative stress may be associated with RAS. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in minor RAS (MiRAS) patients with healthy individuals and determine the possible association of MiRAS with the 3 physiological parameters mentioned above. METHODS: Ninety patients with idiopathic MiRAS and 90 race-, age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. All these subjects were allocated to 3 groups: MiRAS patients in the active stage (Group A); the same MiRAS patients in Group A in the inactive stage (Group B); healthy individuals without MiRAS (Group C). Serum levels of TAS, NO and NOS were determined by the spectrophotometric method. Independent sample t test and paired t test were performed for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Serum TAS level of Group A was significantly decreased than that of Group C, whereas the serum level of NO was significantly higher in Group A as compared to Group C (P < .05). The serum levels of TAS and NO in Group B were no significant differences when compared with those in Group A or Group C. No significant differences in NOS activities were also found between the 3 groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: MiRAS is associated with decreased TAS and increased NO levels, but NOS may not play an important role in the aetiopathogenesis.