Preethi Balan
1*, Subhas B Gogineni
2, Sucheta Kumari N
3, Veena Shetty
4, Anusha Lakshman Rangare
5, Renita L Castelino
6, Fazil Areekat K
71 Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences, KUHS University, Calicut, India
2 Professor and HOD, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences. Nitte Univer-sity, Mangalore, India
3 Professor, Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
4 Professor, Department of Microbiology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
5 Department of Oral medicine and Radiology, Century International Institute of dental Sciences & Research Center, KUHS University, Kasargode, India
6 Department of Oral medicine and Radiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
7 Department of Oral medicine and Radiology, Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences, KUHS University, Calicut, India
Abstract
Background and aims. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between salivary glucose levels and Candida carriage rate in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and assess the growth characteristics and acid production of Candida in glucose-supplemented saliva.Materials and methods. A total of 90 subjects, 30 with controlled type 2 diabetes, 30 with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and 30 without diabetes (control subjects), aged 30‒60 years, participated in the study. Unstimulated saliva was collected and investigated for glucose levels (GOD-POD method), colony-forming units (CFU) of Candida and salivary pH, using Indikrom paper strips). Analysis of statistical significance of salivary glucose and PH levels was carried out using post hoc Tukey HSD test. Correlation of Candida carriage rate with salivary glucose and salivary PH in the study groups and control group was made using Pearson’s correlation.Results. Candida CFUs were significantly higher in diabetic subjects, with a significant and positive correlation with sali-vary glucose levels. There was a negative correlation between salivary PH levels and Candida carriage rate.Conclusion. Increased salivary glucose was associated with increased prevalence of oral Candida in diabetic subjects. The growth of Candida in saliva was accompanied by a rapid decline in PH, which in turn favored their growth.