Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Is Saliva an Alternative Non-Invasive Sample for the Estimation of Protein Profile amongst Diabetics and Gender-based Diagnostics?

Agoro E, Ebiere NE, Eseimokumo SA and Odegbemi JO

Introduction

Protein profile is an important investigation utilized for the diagnosis and management of arrays of diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The measurement of protein profile is basically carried out through invasive sample blood which inflicts pain and is financially cumbersome. The study is aimed at generating an alternative noninvasive sample such as saliva for proteins analysis.

Materials and Methods

A total of 100 subjects were recruited for the study; 50 subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 50 apparently healthy control subjects. Protein profile incudes total protein, albumin, and globulin and albumin/ globulin ratio. Total protein and albumin were estimated using biuret and bromocresol green methods respectively. Globulin and albumin/globulin were estimated mathematically.

Results

The study showed that there was no correlation (P>0.05) between saliva and serum protein profiles amongst controls and diabetes subjects. However, significant correlation (P<0.05) was observed for globulin and albumin/ globulin ratio for diabetic subject with glucose level above threshold level. A comparison between diabetics and controls showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum total protein and globulin, while an increase for serum albumin/globulin ratio. Salivary protein profile and gender influence on serum and salivary protein profiles exhibited a non-significant difference (P<0.05).

Conclusion

The findings showed that serum protein profiles is an important panel of laboratory investigation for the management of diabetes mellitus. Also, gender difference in customized diagnostics is of no clinical importance.