Levels of Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Immunoglobulin G in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder of glucose metabolism and it is associated with a compromised oral immunity. Salivary immunoglobulins offer a comprehensive protection for the oral cavity; however, there is insufficient data regarding their levels in type 2 diabetic patients. This study aimed to measure salivary Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in diabetic patients in comparison to healthy nondiabetic controls.

Methods: Diabetic patients from the outpatient clinic and nondiabetic healthy members of staff, were recruited for this study. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all participants and levels of immunoglobulins A and G were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques; the values were compared between the two groups.

Results: A total of 167 participants were recruited for this study, 95 (56.9%) of them were diabetic patients, while the remaining 72 (43.1%) were healthy nondiabetic controls. The median salivary IgA was 12.57 (Interquartile range [IQR] 11.05–13.67) g/ml in the diabetics and 11.94 (IQR 10.41–13.65) µg/ml in the control group; P = 0.31 while the median salivary IgG was 32.27 (IQR 25.26–38.33) µg/ml in the diabetics and 26.26 (22.48–31.29) µg/ml in the control group; P < 0.001.

Conclusion: Salivary IgG was significantly elevated in the diabetic patients, in spite of a higher prevalence of oral infections, this calls for a more stringent attention to oral hygiene in diabetic patients.