Salivary and Serum Aspartate Aminotransferases and Alanine Aminotransferases in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Normal Children: A Comparative Study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate and compare aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) levels in saliva and serum of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and normal children, and the objective was to evaluate the significance of these enzymes in assessing the salivary gland injury in IDDM children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised of thirty children clinically and biochemically diagnosed for IDDM and thirty healthy children of similar age in the control group. Saliva and serum samples were collected and enzyme assay was performed by optimized ultraviolet test method (according to International Federation of Clinical Chemistry). The values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Mann–Whitney U-test for comparison of the variables and Karl–Pearson's coefficient test for correlation. The SPSS 16.0, (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Higher values of AST (mean = saliva 91.60 IU/L) and ALT (mean = saliva 94.93 IU/L) were found in the saliva than in serum (AST serum = 15.83 IU/L) (ALT serum = 20.80 IU/L) among the patients and the differences were statistically highly significant (P = 0.001). A similar comparison in the control group did not show statistical significant difference (saliva – AST mean = 23.50 IU/L, ALT mean = 21.95 IU/L and serum – AST mean = 12.60 IU/L, ALT mean = 13.25 IU/L). On correlation between patient and normal group, greater values of AST and ALT were observed in saliva of patients and the difference was statistically highly significant ([AST-mean = patients 91.166 IU/L and controls = 23.500 IU/L] [ALT-mean = patients 94.933 IU/L and controls 21.950 IU/L]). The serum values of patients and controls did not show statistical difference. Although higher values of salivary ALT and AST were observed in patients with the disease for 0–5-year clinical duration (ALT mean = 100.21 IU/L and AST mean = 95.39 IU/L) than those with the disease for 6–10-year duration (ALT mean = 77.57 IU/L and AST mean = 77.28 IU/L), values were statistically nonsignificant. CONCLUSION: Elevated salivary AST and ALT levels in IDDM patients suggest the injury to salivary glands and could aid as a salivary marker for the involvement of salivary glands in IDDM.