Influence of smoking on the elemental composition of oral fluids: a TXRF approach

Abstract

This work presents a study of elemental composition (major, minor and trace elements) of oral fluids such as saliva and gingival crevice fluid, and their relation with smoking. Spectrochemical analyses were accomplished by the total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) method using synchrotron radiation. Smoking habit is a well-known factor of risk that can trigger the development of periodontal diseases. The presence of certain elements and their correlation with smoking could be used to predict the development of oral affections, i.e. gingivitis. Two set of patients, smokers and non-smokers, were selected according to certain criteria to analyze saliva and gingival crevice fluid. The elemental concentrations were measured, and the differences between their mean values of both groups were determined. The results reveal significant differences in the elemental concentrations of saliva. On the other hand, the mean values of elemental concentrations in gingival crevice fluid show fewer differences between both groups. The most significant differences in concentration between smokers and non-smokers were found in saliva samples for S, K and Ca. In addition, a significant difference in the concentration of Cl in gingival crevice fluid was observed between both groups.

Study of the elemental composition of saliva of smokers and nonsmokers by X-ray fluorescence

“…For some chemicals elements, the concentration values obtained in this study were the same as those reported in the literature (Abraham et al, 2010), namely for K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Ti for smokers, and Fe and Ti for nonsmokers, but there are discrepancies in the concentrations of other elements, both for smoking and nonsmoking individuals. Abraham et al (2010) failed to measure chlorine element and vanadium, in contrast with the research effort entertained herein.…”

“…Furthermore, all results obtained indicate that smoking seems to be more harmful for females than for males. Figures 9 and 10 show data obtained in this study compared to data gathered from the literature (ABRAHAM et al, 2010), for the elemental composition of the saliva of smoker and nonsmoker individuals of both genders.…”

“…The saliva is one of the more versatile and complex fluids present in the human body, playing an important role in chewing and in the lubrication of both mouth and pharynx, being responsible for the preservation of oral health. Approximately 99.5% of saliva is water, with the remaining components being organic and inorganic molecules, a composition that may vary either from one individual to another or even for the same individual throughout the day (Sánchez et al, 2008;Lima et al, 2008;Edgar, 1992;Abraham et al, 2010;Cleto, 2013). The need to quantify chemical elements present in biological fluids has led to the development of analytical techniques aiming at a rapid and accurate analysis, such as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis.…”

“…In the research work entertained herein, the analytical technique known as Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) (Nascimento F., 1999;Parreira, 2006) was used to analyze the oral fluids. Abraham et al, (2010), Sanchez et al (2008 and Cleto (2013) analyzed saliva samples using a similar (although more accurate) technique to EDXRF, called Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF), to identify the different components present in saliva. The concentration of oligoelements in saliva or gingival crevice fluid is affected by smoking, mainly through the action of proteins and/or changes in the pH of these fluids.…”

“…As cigarettes can produce changes in the concentration of these oligoelements, tobacco smoke can make the smoker more susceptible to diseases. Many other side effects of smoking can be observed as a result of the aggression suffered by the oral environment (Abraham et al, 2010). In this research work the analytical technique EDXRF was used to analyze the oral fluids of 32 individuals, randomly chosen among smokers and nonsmokers of both genders.…”