Perbedaan Kadar Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Saliva antara Perempuan Premenopause dan Postmenopause yang Menyirih

Abstract

The decline in estrogen in postmenopausal women and oxidative stress caused by betel chewing lead to an imbalance of free radicals, with SOD activity as an antioxidant contributing to oral mucosal disorders. This study aims to examine the differences in salivary SOD levels between premenopausal and postmenopausal women who chew betel. The study is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach involving 52 subjects selected using purposive sampling. The inclusion criteria were a habit of betel chewing for at least one year, premenopausal women aged 20 years or older who have menstruated, postmenopausal women who underwent natural menopause and have not menstruated for more than 12 months, healthy and able to communicate well, no history of systemic disease, not undergoing therapy or taking medication affecting SOD levels, not pregnant or breastfeeding, not consuming alcohol and/or smoking, and willing to participate in the study by signing informed consent. The exclusion criteria were uncooperative premenopausal or postmenopausal women who chew betel. SOD data were collected from unstimulated saliva using the spitting method and measured using the Bioassay Technology Laboratory Human Superoxide Dismutase ELISA kit. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test. The results showed that the mean salivary SOD levels in women who chew betel with oral mucosal disorders were lower (0,737±0,279 U/L) than in those without oral mucosal disorders (1,022±0,317 U/L), with significant differences (p=0,005). Furthermore, the salivary SOD levels in postmenopausal women were lower (0,823±0,266 U/L) than in premenopausal women 1,078±0,341 U/L), with significant differences (p=0,035). In conclusion, there is a significant difference in salivary SOD levels between women who chew betel with and without oral mucosal disorders, as well as a significant difference in SOD levels between premenopausal and postmenopausal women who chew betel.