Evaluation of Salivary Immunoglobulin A Levels in Tobacco Smokers, Tobacco Chewers and Healthy Individuals – A Comparative Study

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in tobacco smokers, tobacco chewers and normal subjects and to compare the salivary IgA levels among all of them.

Methods: The study cluster consisted of 90 subjects who were divided into 3 groups as 30 tobacco chewers, 30 tobacco smoker and 30 normal individuals. Saliva was collected by unstimulated spitting method. Based on age range study and control groups were divided into four subgroups. Salivary IgA levels were estimated by Sandwich ELISA technique. All data were analysed using statistical software SPSS version-17 and to compare the results in three groups, single-factor analysis of variance was applied.

Results: The mean salivary IgA level in control group was 104.33 ± 12.16 μg/ml (SD), in tobacco chewers it was 77.59 ± 9.39 μg/ml (SD) and in tobacco smokers it was 58.86 ± 9.56 μg/ml (SD). Among tobacco chewers and tobacco smokers Salivary IgA levels were decreased compared with the controls. Among the tobacco users, tobacco smokers had a lot of reduced secretion immune serum globulin levels compared to tobacco chewers. Results of study was highly significant at P<0.001.

Conclusions: salivary IgA levels among tobacco chewers and tobacco smokers had decreased in the present study. This makes subjects more susceptible to oral diseases. Thus, tobacco chewing and tobacco smoking is injurious to health.