Systemic Consistency of Uric Acid Levels in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Across Periodontal Health Status

Uric acid, a potent antioxidant and pro-oxidant molecule, plays a critical role in neutralizing oxidative stress, a key driver of periodontal disease progression. This study investigates the systemic and localized dynamics of uric acid levels in saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) among individuals with varying periodontal health statuses based on the 2017 classification system for periodontal diseases.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 43 participants grouped into healthy, mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis categories. Saliva and GCF samples were collected and analyzed for uric acid levels using spectrophotometric methods. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to assess differences between groups and fluids.

Significant differences in salivary uric acid levels were observed across severity groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.002), with levels decreasing progressively from healthy individuals (median = 40.51 µmol/L) to severe periodontitis (median = 6.01 µmol/L). Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences between most severity groups, except for mild and moderate periodontitis. In GCF, uric acid levels also differed significantly across groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.0024), with lower levels in severe periodontitis compared to healthy and mild groups. No significant difference was found between uric acid levels in saliva and GCF (Wilcoxon, p = 0.088), indicating consistency across the two fluids.

Uric acid levels in saliva and GCF reflect periodontal health status, with significant reductions observed as disease severity increases. The consistency of uric acid levels between these fluids highlights their potential as non-invasive biomarkers for monitoring oxidative stress in periodontal disease.