Lower saliva melatonin was associated with periodontitis
People with periodontitis, a form of gum disease, generally had lower saliva melatonin than healthy comparison participants. Results varied greatly, and some studies found the opposite.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Compared with healthy individuals, people with periodontitis generally had lower melatonin concentrations in saliva across the reviewed studies. However, some studies found higher concentrations, and the pooled results were highly variable. This is an association involving a biological marker; it does not establish that low melatonin causes gum disease or that melatonin treatment would help.
The authors report substantial differences between studies and wide variability in saliva melatonin concentrations. This abstract-based account cannot assess sampling methods or measurement timing, and the evidence does not establish the direction of cause and effect.
What the researchers compared
The review asked whether saliva melatonin differed between people with periodontitis and healthy individuals. Its central measurement was a concentration in saliva, rather than improvement in gum health, symptoms or response to a treatment.
Why conflicting results matter
Most studies pointed toward lower concentrations with periodontitis, but a minority pointed toward higher concentrations. Statistical pooling favored lower levels overall. The disagreement limits how confidently that average can describe a particular person or study setting.
The original publication
[Associations between salivary melatonin and periodontal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis].
Gorbatova MA, Mitkina EA, Gorbatova LN et al.
Stomatologiia (Mosk) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40719603
- Record checked
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