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

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is a serious public health problem. According to data from the World Health Organization, it is estimated that currently more than 1.2 billion people worldwide do tobacco use and that smoking-related diseases are responsible for about 6 million deaths each. With attention to this, it is necessary to seek preventive and prognostic of trying to reduce these numbers and alert the public in general about the danger and the harm caused by its use. Thus, the objective of the research work undertaken was to evaluate and compare the chemical composition of collected saliva samples of smokers and nonsmokers by X-ray Fluorescence analyses. 32 individuals were selected, 16 of which used cigarette on a daily basis and the other 16 had never smoked. Saliva was collected with the help of a (sterile) disposable Pasteur pipette and samples sent to the Applied Nuclear Physics Laboratory at UNISO (LAFINAU), where analyzes were carried out. Individuals who agreed to participate in the study answered a questionnaire to define their profile of inclusion and signed an informed consent form (CEP Protocol no. 831.753 of 09/10/2014). The results clearly showed that there are differences in the concentrations of chemical elements in the saliva of smokers and non-smokers. The biggest discrepancies were found at concentrations of the chemical elements Sulfur, Phosphorus, Chlorine and Potassium, and smaller differences in the concentration of the elements Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Titanium, Vanadium and Nickel. In only one saliva sample, and in quite low amounts, arsenic was detected. The results indicate that smoking produces more significant changes in the saliva of women than in men, increasing the concentration of some elements in the saliva of female smokers, much more than in the male smokers. The cigarette usage time also appears to exert a greater influence on the composition of the saliva of women than in men, indicating that the damage caused by cigarette use may in fact be higher in women than in men.

Smoking May Lead to Marginal Bone Loss Around Non‐Submerged Implants During Bone Healing by Altering Salivary Microbiome: A Prospective Study

“…According to the literature, smokers have been demonstrated to have poorer oral hygiene compared with non‐smokers 17 . The concentration of the oligoelement composition in saliva is affected by smoking, and these elements may unlock various metabolic processes that lead to functional or infectious diseases 18 . Salivary antioxidant levels may also be changed by smoking, which can generate deleterious effects on oral health 19 .…”

“…17 The concentration of the oligoelement composition in saliva is affected by smoking, and these elements may unlock various metabolic processes that lead to functional or infectious diseases. 18 Salivary antioxidant levels may also be changed by smoking, which can generate deleterious effects on oral health. 19 In addition, smoking has been suggested to favor early acquisition and colonization of pathogens in oral biofilms, and a positive correlation between commensal bacteria and proinflammatory cytokine level has been demonstrated in smokers.…”

The Salivary Concentration of Chemical Elements in Response to Training Loads in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes

“…Another study demonstrated that several salivary chemical elements were detected (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Br, and Rb) in saliva and modulated by physical efforts 2 . Moreover, the salivary levels of K, Zn, S, Cl, P, and Mn presented a correlation with serum concentration, meaning they can be monitored by saliva instead of invasive blood sampling 12 The use of TXRF may be an alternative to other analytical methods since it can be used to screen a large range of chemical elements in saliva, is easy to handle, and allows faster analysis 16 . Besides, the use of TXRF may reduce the risk of the operator´s technical error and contamination since it does not require sample preparation.…”

“…Besides, the use of TXRF may reduce the risk of the operator´s technical error and contamination since it does not require sample preparation. For instance, several ions of interest in sports sciences may be detected by TXRF in a simple procedure 12,16 . Considering that some trace elements and macroelements are modulated in peripheral blood during physical exercise, and some have been demonstrated to be selectively secreted and reabsorbed by salivary glands, saliva analysis through TXRF may be a promising method to monitor the health status and athletes' salivary ionsn balancs.…”

Corrosion of Fixed Orthodontic Appliances: Causes, Concerns, and Mitigation Strategies

“…), antimicrobial factors, nitrogenous compounds, enzymes, immunoglobulins, albumin and other proteins, and glucose, among others [66,69,71,72,75]. Moreover, the chemical composition, temperature, and pH of human saliva vary between individuals and along the course of the day (circadian rhythms), also depending on the person's lifestyle, diet, and health/disease conditions [72,73,[76][77][78][79][80].…”