Effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on the salivary ghrelin and serum alkaline phosphatase levels in health and chronic periodontal diseases: A clinico-biochemical study

Context: Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that is secreted predominantly in the stomach having effects on immunomodulation and bone metabolism. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is synthesized by the osteoblasts and is presumed to be involved in the calcification of the bone matrix. Objective: The objective of the study is to compare and correlate the salivary ghrelin and serum ALP levels in health and chronic periodontal disease before and after 2 months of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). Materials and Methods: A total of 50 systemically healthy subjects were included in the study and divided into healthy, chronic gingivitis, and chronic periodontitis groups. Clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded along with the collection of saliva and serum samples at baseline and also after 2 months of NSPT and subjected to ELISA and colorimetric test. Statistical Analysis: Student independent t-test, Pearson's correlation, and analysis of variance with post-hoc Games Howell test were used for analysis. Results: Results demonstrated that salivary ghrelin and serum ALP were detected in all the groups. There was a statistically significant increase in salivary ghrelin and a reduction in serum ALP levels as wells as the clinical parameters following NSPT in both the treated groups. Conclusion: This study concludes that salivary ghrelin and serum ALP levels may represent as a diagnostic biomarker for periodontal disease and also have the potential for therapeutic assessment of responses to NSPT.