Lower salivary melatonin was associated with periodontal disease
People with gum disease had lower levels in pooled results, but study differences and possible publication bias limit confidence.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
People with periodontal disease had lower salivary melatonin levels on average than healthy controls in the pooled analysis. This supports a possible biomarker relationship, but it does not show that low melatonin causes gum disease. The abstract also does not establish that measuring salivary melatonin can reliably diagnose disease or determine its severity.
Study results differed greatly, and some tests suggested publication bias. The abstract lacks participant totals, measurement timing and enough detail to judge whether salivary melatonin could be a useful clinical test.
What researchers found
Salivary melatonin: standardized mean difference (Hedges g)
Periodontal disease versus healthy controls. Measurement timeframe: not reported in the abstract.
Reading the statistical scale
The difference was -2.04 standard deviations; standard deviations measure how widely values vary. Its 95% confidence interval spans -3.44 to -0.63 standard deviations. Negative values mean lower melatonin in the disease group. This scale does not give concentrations or percentages.
Consistency remains a concern
Most studies reported lower melatonin, although some pointed in the opposite direction. This variability matters when judging the consistency of the association and helps explain why the authors call for more standardized studies.
The original publication
Is salivary melatonin an indicator of periodontal disease severity? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Santos RMD, Gonçalves FD, Carneiro LM et al.
Arch Oral Biol · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41604838
- Record checked
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