Imbalance of Myoinositol and D‐Chiro‐Inositol in Saliva of Children With Type‐1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Abstract

ObjectiveEarlier work suggests Myoinositol (MI) and D‐chiro‐ inositol (DCI) imbalance in urine and plasma of diabetic patients, and their potential for monitoring insulin resistance. This study aimed to assess levels of Myoinositol (MI) and D‐chiro‐ inositol (DCI) in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM‐1) and controls, to verify if concentrations of MI and DCI are similarly altered in saliva, exploring their potential for monitoring DM‐1.Design, Patients and MeasurementsThis cross‐sectional clinical study enroled 45 patients (DM‐1, n = 25; Controls, n = 20). Children aged 3–12 years with fasting blood glucose levels > 126 mg/dL, and HbA1c levels > 7%. Saliva was collected, and salivary measurements included pH, flow rates and concentrations of MI, DCI and glucose, employing high‐performance liquid chromatography. Periodontal health was assessed using bleeding and plaque indices.ResultsChildren with DM‐1 showed elevated MI (p = 0.001), reduced DCI (p = 0.001), and increased MI‐DCI ratio (p = 0.001). The MI‐DCI ratio was elevated by 16‐fold among diabetic children. Plaque (p = 0.003) and gingival bleeding (p = 0.001) were higher in DM‐1 than controls. The MI increased the odds of an outcome of DM‐1 by 174%, while DCI reduced the odds by 63%, highlighting their strong and opposing effects on DM‐1.ConclusionsChildren with DM‐1 express higher MI and lower DCI levels, while non‐diabetic children show an inversion of these concentrations. Inositol imbalance in saliva of diabetic children resembles previous results in urine, and represents a possible venue for monitoring this disease, paving the way for future investigations into salivary inositols.