Stimulated and non-stimulated saliva as biological material in the assessment of cotinine concentration.

INTRODUCTION A biomarker of the exposure to the tobacco smoke is cotinine - a nicotine metabolite with a half-life about 16 hours. Analysis of cotinine concentration in biological material allows objective assessment of the cigarette smoking status and environmental exposure to the tobacco smoke. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was evaluation of the influence of method of saliva collection: stimulated or non-stimulated one by chewing a paraffin cube on cotinine concentration in the saliva as well as the analysis of the obtained cotinine values depending on the status of cigarette smoking. MATERIAL AND METHODS Survey with the use of authorial survey questionnaire and biochemical survey of saliva were conducted among 115 people aged 20-50 who reported for treatment at the Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics of the Medical University of Lublin. In the examined group 66 people declared cigarette smoking, 49 reported they had never smoked cigarettes and had never tried to smoke. Cotinine concentration in the saliva was assayed with the use of Cotinine test (Calbiotech). Obtained study results were submitted to statistical analysis using Ch2 test. Statistically essential test values were those of p<0.05. While investigating the influence of age on the examined parameters Spearman correlation coefficient and the test of its relevance were employed. RESULTS Mean cotinine concentra- tion in non-stimulated saliva in smokers was 310.36 ng/ml, in stimulated saliva 305.61 ng/ml. No statistically essential differences were stated between stimulated and non-stimulated saliva (Z=0.36, p>0.05). Cotinine concentration in non-stimulated and in stimulated saliva was increasing with age of the investigated. CONCLUSIONS Cotinine concentration in both in stimulated and non-stimulated saliva obtains similar values. Cotinine concentration both in stimulated and non-stimulated saliva increases with age of the investigated.