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C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase reactant, has been identified as a saliva-based biomarker of inflammation. The objective of the study was to estimate and compare salivary CRP levels in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Subacute thyroiditis (SAT). The study included 30 HT patients who presented with clinical features of hypothyroidism, 15 SAT patients who presented with clinical features of hyperthyroidism, and 20 healthy age- and sex-matched euthyroid controls. CRP levels in saliva were estimated using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay method with enhanced sensitivity. In HT, the mean salivary CRP levels did not differ significantly from controls. SAT patients had significantly elevated salivary CRP levels compared to HT patients and controls. The rise in salivary CRP levels in SAT patients conceivably reflects the presence of an inflammatory process. Saliva CRP levels appear to serve as inflammatory markers in SAT patients and may aid their clinical evaluation.

Habitual consumption of moderate amounts of fish is associated with reduced mortality from coronary heart disease. However the beneficial effects of fish enriched diet seem contradictory, due to the susceptibility of the PUFAs in them to oxidation. It is also acclaimed that vegetarians in general, have a lower serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and a better antioxidant status. This contradiction was the basis for the study, where the validity of the above finding was tested in a general population consuming a vegetarian or predominantly fish diet as a regular dietary habit. The oxidant status and the lipid profile of 23 vegetarians and 22 fish eaters was studied by estimating the plasma lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) and the lipid parameters viz. Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Statistical analysis was carried out to compare the MDA values and the lipemic status between the two groups. MDA was also correlated with the various lipid indices among the study groups. None of the compared and correlated values was statistically significant, although certain altered trends were seen. From this study, it may be concluded that oxidant status and lipid profile does not vary significantly in the two groups, suggesting that neither a vegetarian diet nor a fish diet has a definite benefit over the other.

An adequate antioxidant reserve which is usually present in a vegetarian diet is associated with higher life expectancy. On the other hand habitual consumption of fish is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases which is attributed to the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present in it. However the PUFA are readily susceptible to oxidation leading to the formation of free radicals which is known to be involved in the causation of several diseases.The oxidant-antioxidant status of 23 vegetarians and 22 fish eaters was studied by determining the plasma lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) and the antioxidants, viz. glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid, ceruloplasmin and uric acid.Results show that the ascorbic acid values were significantly higher in vegetarians. In addition, MDA correlated negatively with ascorbic acid only in vegetarians. However, correlation of MDA with glutathione showed a significant negative correlation only in fish eaters. There was no statistically significant difference in the MDA, GSH, ceruloplasmin and uric acid levels. The mechanism behind these findings are not clear and needs to be explored.