title: Correlation between salivary and serum oxidized LDL levels: a pilot study on overweight/obese subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Saliva contains a variety of substances and could be functionally equivalent to serum in reflecting the physiological state of the body, including metabolic variations. Salivary samples are non-invasive, safe, and easier to handle than serum. Oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL) is an additional cardiovascular risk factor playing an important role in atheromatous plaque formation; overweight/obese subjects present an increase in oxLDL concentrations. The aims of the study were to assess oxLDL salivary levels, if detectable, and to verify their possible correlation with serum in overweight/obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five consecutive overweight/obese subjects and 10 normal weight controls were enrolled. Serum and salivary oxLDL levels were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA method).
  
  
  RESULTS
  oxLDL levels were detectable in salivary samples and correlated (P = 0.001) with serum levels. Overweight/obese subjects showed serum and salivary oxLDL levels higher than controls (P = 0.000 and P = 0.022, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed the presence of oxLDL in salivary samples and highlighted a correlation between salivary oxLDL levels and their counterpart in serum. Moreover, salivary oxLDL levels were higher in overweight/obese subjects than in controls. Therefore, a salivary sample could be functionally equivalent to serum in monitoring cardiovascular risk in overweight/obese subjects.
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: De Giuseppe
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cossellu
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Unit of Workers Health Protection and Promotion, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Vigna
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Dicorato
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: De Vita
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Venturelli
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bamonti
authors: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Maiavacca
authors: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Farronato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: obesity; oxidized LDL cholesterol; periodontitis; salivary samples