Comparative Evaluation of Salivary Leptin Levels in Healthy and Chronic Periodontitis Patients with or without Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Leptin is a hormone-like protein, or some call it as an acute phase inflammatory protein, which recently has gained attention due to its role in regulating metabolism of the human body as well as affecting the body’s defense mechanisms, including macrophages.

Materials and Methods: Patients visiting Saveetha Dental College from July to November 2020 were examined. Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females) were included in this study and subdivided into three groups. Group A has participants with healthy periodontium. Group B, periodontitis and diabetes mellitus. Group C has periodontitis patients only.

Results: Salivary leptin was observed to be the highest in periodontitis patients with diabetes mellitus followed by patients with periodontitis only and minimal levels in periodontal health patients.

Conclusion: The results indicate that salivary leptin levels are raised in the saliva of patients with periodontitis with diabetes mellitus than healthy controls and hence can be an important biomarker for periodontal therapeutic purposes.