Non-Invasive Saliva Test May Detect Early Signs of Diabetes and Obesity: Study Finds
A new study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism has found that insulin levels in saliva can be used as a non-invasive method to detect early signs of metabolic health issues, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Hyperinsulinemia, or elevated insulin levels in the blood, is a well-established marker of poor metabolic health and a predictor of chronic diseases. While blood testing has been the standard, researchers now say that saliva testing could serve as a practical and less invasive alternative.
The study involved 94 healthy participants with a range of body sizes. After fasting, each participant consumed a standardized meal-replacement shake, provided saliva samples at multiple time points, and completed a finger-prick blood glucose test. Researchers found that individuals living with obesity had significantly higher saliva insulin levels compared to leaner participants, even though their blood glucose levels remained similar.
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