Salivary thiocyanate in pregnant smokers: a comparison of two collection methods

Two simple methods of obtaining a salivary thiocyanate sample were tested to determine (1) if salivary thiocyanate could adequately differentiate a group of pregnant women into smokers and nonsmokers and (2) whether the simpler collection method of having the woman spit directly into the container produced as good a measurement of smoking exposure as having the woman chew a dental roll. Results show that thiocyanate measured from saliva samples collected by either of the two tested methods discriminates smokers from nonsmokers among pregnant women. The method of spitting directly into the collection container resulted in as good a discrimination of smokers from nonsmokers as results from the more complicated method of having subjects chew a dental roll. Advantages of using the direct method in large research projects are discussed. This is the first documentation that salivary thiocyanate distinguishes smokers from nonsmokers during pregnancy. The salivary data are consistent with earlier observations of higher serum thiocyanate levels during pregnancy, suggesting that thiocyanate may be metabolized differently during this time.