Assessment of the Salivary Level of Malondialdehyde in Localized Periodontitis Versus Generalized Periodontitis: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: We aimed to compare the salivary level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in localized periodontitis versus generalized periodontitis. Methods: Nineteen healthy participants, 35 cases of generalized periodontitis, and 36 cases of localized periodontitis included in the study. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay was used to blindly quantify the amounts of MDA in saliva. Data analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test via R software. Results: Ninety subjects completed the study. There was a statistically significant difference among study groups (P < 0.001). The Tukey’s post hoc test showed a statistically significant difference for all pairwise compressions (P < 0.001) Conclusion: The salivary levels of MDA increase in periodontitis patients. Within limitations of this cross-sectional study, it could be concluded that salivary MDA levels may possibly be a potential biomarker to examine oxidative stress in periodontal disease.