Salivary Apelin Levels and Periodontal Findings in Individuals With/Without Type 1 Diabetes and Varying Degrees of Gingival Inflammation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate salivary apelin levels in individuals with and without type 1 diabetes presenting an intact periodontium and varying degrees of plaque-induced gingival inflammation. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected; and whole-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded in type 1 diabetes and systemically healthy participants. Salivary apelin concentrations were determined using ELISA. Data were analysed statistically using the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality of distribution, the Mann-Whitney U test for intergroup differences, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis to assess correlations between clinical and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: A total of 99 participants; including 59 individuals in the type 1 diabetes group and 40 in the systemically healthy were included. The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender distribution, and smoking status (p > 0.05). The salivary apelin concentration in the diabetic group (4647.13 ± 8584.45 pg/mL) was almost twice that in the systemically healthy group (2704.12 ± 3006.73 pg/mL) without statistically significant difference (0.114). Clinical periodontal measurements were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05). Neither gender nor smoking status had a significant effect on apelin levels (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the observed trend toward higher salivary apelin levels in patients with type 1 diabetes may suggest a possible association that requires confirmation in larger cohorts.