Background: Trace elements are chemical elements required in minute amounts, usually as part of a vital element. The present study was undertaken to assess and compare salivary copper and zinc levels in patients with potentially malignant and malignant disorders. Materials & methods: A total of 40 subjects were enrolled in the present study. Among these 40 subjects, 10 subjects were of oral leukoplakia (OL), 10 subjects were of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), 10 subjects were of oral lichen planus (OLP), 10 subjects were of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and remaining 10 subjects were healthy controls. Unstimulated salivary samples were obtained from all the patients in sterilized vials. All the samples were sent to laboratory where an auto-analyser was used for assessing the salivary copper and zinc levels. Results: Mean salivary copper levels of the subjects of OL, OSMF, OLP, OSCC and healthy controls was 74.5, 80.1, 79.2, 92.6 and 10.2 ppb respectively. Mean salivary Zinc levels of the subjects of OL, OSMF, OLP, OSCC and healthy controls was 289.2, 295.1, 294.8, 415.2 and 178.9 ppb respectively. Mean salivary copper and zinc levels of the potentially malignant group and the malignant group was significantly higher in comparison to the healthy controls. Also, mean salivary copper and zinc levels of the subjects of the malignant group was significantly higher than that of potentially malignant group. Conclusion: Salivary copper and zinc levels show significant alteration in premalignant and malignant disorders; thus highlighting their role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Key words: Copper, Malignant, Zinc.

Received: 16 March, 2019                                         Revised:  26 April 2019                             Accepted: 28 April 2019
                                
Corresponding author: Dr. Rajiv Puri, B.D.S., M.D.S., Graded Specialist (Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology), Army Dental Corps, India
               
This article may be cited as: Puri R. Analysis of salivary copper and zinc levels in patients with potentially malignant and malignant disorders: A case-control study. Int J Res Health Allied Sci 2019; 5(3): 75-77.