Correlation of plasma lipid profile with salivary oxidative stress markers in type II diabetes mellitus patients

Introduction: Diabetes is known to be associated with greater production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased antioxidants like total thiols and its estimation in plasma is used in monitoring the redox status. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between plasma lipid profile parameters like HDL and LDL with salivary MDA and thiols in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty subjects between the age group 35- 70 years who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin levels who attended the dental OPD at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal consented to participate in this study. Plasma glucose, HDL and LDL were estimated in Cobas autoanalyser by hexokinase method, homogenous enzymatic colorimetric assay and Friedwald's formula respectively. Assessment of glycated hemoglobin was by ion exchange chromatography, MDA by thiobarbituric acid as a substrate and thiols by Ellmann's manual method in plasma and saliva. Results: The association of plasma LDL with salivary MDA was found to be positive and significant and that with salivary thiols was negative and significant. Also, the association of plasma HDL with salivary MDA was found to be negative and significant and that with salivary thiols was positive and significant. Conclusion: Results indicate the potential of saliva as a tool to monitor prognosis of diabetes.