Assessment of Salivary TNF-α as a Biomarker for Periodontal Disease in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Adults: A Cross-sectional Study in Khartoum, Sudan
Introduction:
Diabetes and periodontal disease (PD) share a bidirectional relationship, with inflammation serving as a crucial connecting factor. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) represents a key inflammatory marker that may play a significant role in this relationship.
Aims:
This study aimed to compare TNF-α levels in diabetic versus nondiabetic individuals with chronic periodontitis and evaluate potential correlations between TNF-α, periodontal parameters, and glycemic control.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a comparative study involving 80 participants with chronic periodontitis, divided into two groups: 40 with diabetes and 40 without diabetes. We collected demographic data, assessed periodontal health using various clinical indices, and analyzed salivary TNF-α levels. For diabetic participants, we additionally measured glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels to evaluate long-term glycemic control.
Results:
Diabetic participants demonstrated significantly higher salivary TNF-α levels (151.69 ± 122 pg/µL) compared to nondiabetic participants (97.6 ± 80.1 pg/µL). The diabetic group also exhibited greater gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation. Interestingly, no significant correlation was found between TNF-α levels and HbA1c values among diabetic participants. Both the groups showed similar periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment loss.
Conclusion:
TNF-α appears to play a significant role in the inflammatory process when diabetes and PD coexist. The lack of correlation between TNF-α and glycemic control suggests that periodontal inflammation might influence TNF-α levels more than diabetes management status. Further research on TNF-α as a potential biomarker is recommended, along with improved integration between dental and diabetes care in treatment approaches.
Diabetes and periodontal disease (PD) share a bidirectional relationship, with inflammation serving as a crucial connecting factor. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) represents a key inflammatory marker that may play a significant role in this relationship.
Aims:
This study aimed to compare TNF-α levels in diabetic versus nondiabetic individuals with chronic periodontitis and evaluate potential correlations between TNF-α, periodontal parameters, and glycemic control.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a comparative study involving 80 participants with chronic periodontitis, divided into two groups: 40 with diabetes and 40 without diabetes. We collected demographic data, assessed periodontal health using various clinical indices, and analyzed salivary TNF-α levels. For diabetic participants, we additionally measured glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels to evaluate long-term glycemic control.
Results:
Diabetic participants demonstrated significantly higher salivary TNF-α levels (151.69 ± 122 pg/µL) compared to nondiabetic participants (97.6 ± 80.1 pg/µL). The diabetic group also exhibited greater gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation. Interestingly, no significant correlation was found between TNF-α levels and HbA1c values among diabetic participants. Both the groups showed similar periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment loss.
Conclusion:
TNF-α appears to play a significant role in the inflammatory process when diabetes and PD coexist. The lack of correlation between TNF-α and glycemic control suggests that periodontal inflammation might influence TNF-α levels more than diabetes management status. Further research on TNF-α as a potential biomarker is recommended, along with improved integration between dental and diabetes care in treatment approaches.