Salivary Antioxidant and Oxidative Stress Marker Levels in HIV-Positive Individuals

BACKGROUND: HIV infections are a worldwide health problem. HIV infection reduces CD4+ cell counts. Oxidative stress might play an important role in the stimulation of virus replication and immunodeficiency. Saliva might be the first line of defense against oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stress marker and antioxidant levels of saliva in HIV-infected patients by measuring total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde level. METHODS: A total of 49 HIV-positive patients and 49 healthy HIV-negative individuals were randomly selected. All the patients were clinically examined. Five mL of unstimulated whole saliva was collected and evaluated by spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzed with STATA 11. RESULTS: Mean ages of the case and control groups were 28 and 33 years, respectively. Salivary malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in the HIV-positive group (3.68±2.26) compared to the healthy control group (2.79±1.91). Levels of salivary total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in the HIV-positive group (0.20± 0.09) compared to the control group (0.27±0.10). CONCLUSION: The antioxidant defense system in HIV-positive individuals was low and oxidative stress was high in this population. Saliva might be used as a diagnostic tool for antioxidant changes in HIV-positive patients in the future. There were changes in salivary antioxidant defense system and oxidative stress in HIV-positive individuals. Antioxidant supplements might help local salivary and general health statuses.