Comparative Analysis of Serum and Saliva Iron, Ferritin, and TIBC in Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia: Highlighting Saliva's Screening Potential

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent form of anemia, particularly among women. Diagnosing and tracking this condition typically requires various measurements of serum iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) through blood testing. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the utility of saliva as a predictive marker for monitoring iron levels in iron deficiency anemia by comparing and correlating iron, ferritin, and TIBC levels in the serum and saliva of anemic and healthy women. Methods: In this comparative analysis, 40 women aged 20 - 40 with a similar periodontal status (anemic subjects = 20 and healthy subjects = 20) were examined. After a complete hematological and oral examination, salivary samples were collected using the spitting method, and iron, ferritin, and TIBC levels were measured and compared to the serum levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24. Results: The study results showed that the differences in saliva iron and ferritin levels were insignificant between the two groups (P-value = 0.07 and 0.26, respectively), but those were statistically significant in the serum (P-value = 0.0001 and 0.0001, respectively). Additionally, a significant difference was found in the saliva TIBC level (P-value = 0.001), which was negligible in the serum (P-value = 0.118). Conclusions: The results underscore the efficacy of integrating both serum and saliva analyses for comprehending iron-related parameters. While saliva analysis cannot entirely substitute for serum analysis, it represents a convenient approach that may serve as an initial step or be employed in large-scale anemia screenings.