Sialic acid (SA), a family of acetylated derivatives of neuraminic
acid, an
acute phase reactant by itself. It usually occurs as a terminal component at the non-reducing end of
carbohydrate chains of
glycoproteins and
glycolipids. SA participates in multiple physiological functions, such as cell-to-cell interactions, cell migration and proliferation.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by rise in
blood glucose level.
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the periodontal tissue, leading to destruction of bone surrounding the tooth and ultimately
tooth loss. There is a two way relationship between
diabetes mellitus and
periodontitis.
Periodontitis is the sixth complication of diabetes along with retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, macrovascular disease, and altered wound healing. Inflammatory mediators like
interleukin-6 and
tumor necrosis factor-alpha produced during periodontal
inflammation can interfere with the actions of
insulin receptors and worsen the
glycemic control of diabetic patients.
Periodontitis is a major cause of
tooth loss, affecting over 300 million people and bacteria associated with
periodontitis are also linked with systemic problems like
endocarditis,
atherosclerosis. Recent work has highlighted a major role for the host
sugar sialic acid in the biofilm physiology and host-pathogen interactions of T. forsithya, a key periodontal pathogen. There exists a need for a
biomarker, for early detection of disease evolution and more robust
therapy efficacy measurements. Serum
sialic acids were estimated in Indian population by
diphenylamine method and
Thiobarbituric acid method. The average values were 68 ± 2.6 mg percent by DPA method and 56 ± 5 mg percent by TBA (
thiobarbituric acid assay) method. Age and sex showed no influence on serum
sialic acid level. Objectives of the present study was to compare (TSSA) level in healthy subjects, subjects with (
CMP) with and without (
NIDDM) and its effect on non-surgical periodontal
therapy. In the present study, the participants were divided into three groups: Group A, B and C. Group A consists of systemically healthy subjects, Group B consists of subjects with (
CMP) while Group C consists of subjects with (
CMP) with (
NIDDM) and results of this study indicated that, at baseline, there were significant differences between Group A, B and Group C with respect to all the clinical parameters, including (GI), (OHI-S), (
PPD), (CAL), (TSSA) and (HbA1c) levels. Thus (TSSA) level could be considered as novel
biomarker in the progression of
periodontal disease and diabetic status.
Periodontitis could be considered as a potential, modifiable, and independent risk factor for the development of diabetes. Early detection of elevated (TSSA) level may help in interpreting the progression of
periodontitis, risk of development of
diabetes mellitus in future and also to prevent complications.