Hourolein Arab - MSc of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Farshad Keshavarzi - Resident of periodontology, Student Research Committe, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

Objective: Dental caries is considered as one of the major complication of diabetes mellitus. Patients with type ۲ diabetes mellitus (T۲DM) demonstrate evidence of oxidant–antioxidant imbalances in their biological fluids such as saliva. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of oral health status and salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in T۲DM. Materials and Methods: Fifty T۲DM patients and ۵۰ healthy subjects were selected as study sample. Oral examination to assess the dental caries experience was carried out according decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Unstimulated whole saliva specimens were collected in the morning. TAC of saliva was evaluated by spectrophotometric assay. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent two-sample t test and Pearson's correlation test, by SPSS ۱۸. Results: The mean level of TAC in T۲DM was lower than healthy people (P-value: ۰.۰۰۰۱). The mean of DMFT scores in T۲DM were significantly higher than non-diabetics (P-value: ۰.۰۰۰۱). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between TAC level and DMFT scores in both groups (P-value: ۰.۰۰۶). Conclusion: TAC of saliva could be a marker of dental caries activity among T۲DM and healthy adults. Therefore, in order to decrease the risk of oxidative damage, it is recommended that T۲DM patients take more natural antioxidant food.

Antioxidants, Dental caries, Diabetes, Saliva