Increased salivary lipid peroxidation in human subjects with oral lichen planus

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucosal disease of unknown aetiology. Recently, increased oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation level, in the saliva of patients with OLP. Method: Thirty patients with OLP (15 men, 15 women; mean age 44.0, SD +/- 11.4 years) and 30 control subjects (16 men, 14 women; aged 23-67 years), matched for age and gender, were enrolled in this case and control study. This study was conducted at the Clinic of Oral Medicine of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2007. The unstimulated whole saliva malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and TAC levels were assayed by thiobarbituric acid and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), respectively, in both groups. Results: Mean levels of saliva MDA, but not TAC, in patients with OLP was significantly higher than those of the control group. Conclusion: We conclude that OLP patients have more cellular lipid peroxidation than healthy subjects.