The Impact of the Electronic Cigarettes Vaping on the Salivary Superoxide Dismutase, Zinc and Copper in Comparison to Tobacco Cigarette Smoking.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) have adverse effects on human health similar to tobacco cigarettes. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the impact of ECs versus tobacco cigarettes on salivary superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its cofactors, zinc and copper, as well as their effect on the periodontal health status.

METHODS

One hundred sixty-five dental students (21-23 years) were categorised into: tobacco cigarette smokers, EC users and non-smokers (control). Unstimulated saliva was collected to determine the concentrations of salivary SOD, zinc and copper were analysed. Periodontal status was assessed by periodontal disease index (PDI).

RESULTS

The salivary SOD, zinc and copper levels were slightly increased in non-smokers, followed by EC users, while they were slightly decreased in tobacco cigarette smokers, reaching significant levels (p ≤ 0.001). The smoking status (including the smoking types) showed a statistically highly significant effect on the three investigated biochemical markers (p ≤ 0.001). The periodontal index scores were elevated in tobacco smokers compared with EC users, while they were reduced in non-smokers; these differences reached significant levels (p ≤ 0.001). Negative correlations were recorded between the periodontal index mean levels and salivary SOD concentrations across the three groups (correlation coefficients = -0.441, -0.545 and -0.545), which reached highly significant levels (p ≤ 0.001). Periodontal index mean levels also showed significant negative correlations with zinc levels (-0.319, -0.323 and -0.343; p ≤ 0.05). The correlations between the periodontal index mean and copper concentrations were non-significant.

CONCLUSION

Zinc, copper and SOD levels recorded statistically significant differences among the three groups. However, the magnitude of such differences was very small. Therefore, although statistically significant, these findings may not provide clinically meaningful or biologically relevant changes, where they could be affected by the variability within the study group.