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Saliva tests identified metabolic disease risk in children
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Saliva tests for the identification of type 2 diabetes in children could represent a new frontier in the study of metabolic diseases, according to research published in PLOS ONE.
The noninvasive approach to detect altered levels of salivary biomarkers holds the potential for developing simplified screening procedures, as well as early diagnosis and prevention strategies, particularly when fear of needles are involved.
“Salivary diagnostics can be a meaningful adjunct in the evaluation and management of children with metabolic disease,” Max Goodson, DDS, PhD, of the department of applied oral sciences at The Forsyth Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and director of the Kuwait Healthy Life Study (KHLS), told Endocrine Today. “Many believe that the only cure for obesity is prevention, which starts with treatment and evaluation.”
Max Goodson
From the KHLS, a longitudinal cohort investigation of more than 8,000 children, Goodson and colleagues evaluated inflammatory parameters and metabolic differences in 744 children aged 11 years. The children were categorized as underweight, normal healthy weight, overweight or obese. Fasting saliva samples were analyzed for 20 biomarkers; saliva supernatants were collected after centrifugation.
The researchers observed significant changes in four salivary biomarkers in children with obesity compared with normal healthy weight: C-reactive protein was six times higher, insulin and leptin were three times higher and adiponectin was 30% lower (all P<.0001).
Categorical analysis suggested three types of obesity could exist in children. Inflammatory characteristics were seen in 76% of children with obesity; high salivary insulin was present in 13%, but not associated with inflammatory mediators; and the remaining 11% had high insulin and reduced adiponectin.
Based on biomarker characteristics, 40% of children without obesity were determined to be at risk for obesity and related metabolic syndrome.
The noninvasive screening approach is essential in treating children who may be unwilling or fearful of providing a blood sample, Goodson said.
“When blood diagnostics for insulin, CRP or adiponectin are needed in populations unwilling or unable to provide blood samples, saliva samples may provide useful information,” he said. — by Allegra Tiver.
For more information:
Goodson can be reached at the Department of Applied Oral Sciences, The Forsyth Institute, 245 First St., Cambridge, MA 02142; email: mgoodson@forsyth.org.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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