Journal of Dentistry

Evaluation and Comparison of Salivary Interleukin-8 Levels and Dental Caries Severity in Pediatric and Adolescent Celiac Patients versus Healthy Controls: An Exploratory Case Control Study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Razieh Sayadi 1
Abolfazl Iranikhah 1
Aida Mehdipoor 2
Mohammad Reza Ghadir 3
Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi 4
Ehsan Vesali-Monfared 5
Fatemeh Borji 6
Ali Saleh 6
Ghazal Alavi 6

1 Gastroenterology and Hepatology Diseases Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

2 Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Diseases Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

3 Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Diseases Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

4 Dept. of Epidemiology, Reserch center for environmental pollutants. Qom university of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

5 Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Diseases Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

6 Student Research Committee, Qom university of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

10.30476/dentjods.2026.111640.3053
Abstract
Background: Celiac disease(CD) is an immune‑mediated disorder with gluten‑induced small intestinal mucosal injury and malabsorption, which may affect oral and dental health. Interleukin‑8 (IL‑8) plays a central role in mucosal immune activation and has been implicated in CD pathophysiology and caries susceptibility.
Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate salivary IL‑8 levels in pediatric celiac patients compared with healthy controls and examined their association with dental caries severity.
Materials and Method: This exploratory case-control study recruited 45 patients with biopsy- and serology-confirmed CD and 45 age‑ and sex‑matched healthy controls. Decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) and international caries detection and assessment system (ICDAS ) scores were recorded. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and IL‑8 quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay )ELISA(. Between‑group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed (p Value < 0.05).
Results: CD patients had significantly higher DMFT scores and salivary IL‑8 than controls (p= 0.005 and p< 0.001). No significant correlations were found between IL‑8 and DMFT/dmft indices. In the CD group, IL‑8 levels correlated negatively with ICDAS scores of primary teeth (r= –0.60; p= 0.015). Anti‑tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A (anti‑tTG‑IgA) correlated negatively with dmft and positively with ICDAS scores of permanent teeth. IL‑8 showed no relationship with CD severity.
Conclusion: Individuals with CD exhibited higher caries and elevated salivary IL‑8 than controls, suggesting CD may influence oral health through immunological and nutritional mechanisms. Salivary IL‑8 may be a biomarker of mucosal immune activation and may support monitoring disease activity.

Keywords

Celiac disease
Gluten-free diet
Dental caries
Interleukin-8
Salivary biomarkers
Journal of Dentistry

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 03 November 2026

  • Receive Date 07 June 2026
  • Revise Date 27 August 2026
  • Accept Date 24 October 2026
  • First Publish Date 03 November 2026
  • Publish Date 03 November 2026

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