Salivary Analysis Of Iron In Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Hospital Based Study

Background: Oral sub mucous fibrosis is one of the potentially malignant conditions of the oral cavity. Iron is meticulously studied in recent years to judge whether they have any modifying effects in the etiology of precancer and cancer. Aim of study was to evaluate levels of iron in the saliva in patients with OSMF. Methods: Study group comprised of 66 patients, out of which 22 cases of clinically diagnosed OSMF patients and 22 cases of betel nut habitual without OSMF and 22 cases of age and sex matched control healthy patients were recruited. Estimation of Iron by Ferrozine method in Saliva was carried out by using Spectrophotometer. The statistical analysis was carried out. Results: Level of iron in saliva was significantly decreased in OSMF patients when compared to betel nut habitual and control group which were statistically significant. Conclusion: The present study, all the cases of OSMF revealed reduction in iron levels which suggests that iron plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of OSM. In group II (Betel nut habituals without OSMF) patients showed decrease in iron levels which suggest that, betel nut quid with or without tobacco consumption may alter the serum and salivary levels of iron and plays an important role in the advancement of OSMF. Therefore regular monitoring of betel nut habituals should also be carried out because they are at higher risk of developing OSMF. The present study indicates that saliva also may be used as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool to evaluate the iron In OSMF patients. Keywords: PMDs , OSMF, Salivary biomarkers, Iron and Saliva.