Comparison of Oxidant Stress Levels among Healthy, Chronic Periodontitis, and Ischemic Heart Disease Subjects with Presence or Absence of Chronic Periodontitis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the total oxidant levels in healthy, chronic periodontitis (CP), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) and to check for any correlation among them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 80 were split into four groups of healthy subjects (Group I), CP subjects (Group II), IHD subjects (Group III), and IHD subjects having periodontitis (Group IV). The serum and saliva samples collected were analyzed for levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydroxyl radical (OH(-)), nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide radical (O(2)(-)). RESULTS: There were significant (P < 0.05) variances in the mean serum and salivary levels of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, NO, and superoxide within the 4 groups. Oxidant levels of both serum and saliva were lower in disease groups of Group II, III, and IV as compared to healthy controls, with different patterns. CONCLUSION: The oxidant levels (H(2)O(2), OH(-), NO, and O(2)(-)) are significantly hampered in periodontitis and IHD subjects as compared to healthy subjects. The oxidants, whether serum or salivary, did not always show the proportional change as a result of change in oxidant stress due to disease as positive correlation was observed only in the serum H(2)O(2) and salivary NO radical levels and between serum superoxide dismutase radical and salivary H(2)O(2) in Group I. In Group III, there was a positive correlation between serum NO radical and salivary H(2)O(2).