Background/aim: Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. The aim of the study was to evaluate the catabolism of glycoconjugates in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes, by measurement of the activity of N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase (HEX) in their saliva.
Material/methods: The study was performed in 65 children with type 1 diabetes and 39 healthy children. Salivary HEX activity was determined spectrophotometrically by the method of Zwierz et al. in the modification of Marciniak et al. Protein was determined by the bicinchoninic acid method (BCATM Assay Protein Kit). Concentration of the HEX activity was expressed in pKat/mL and HEX specific activity in pKat/μg of protein.
Results: A significant increase in the concentration and the specific activity of HEX in the saliva of children with type 1 diabetes, compared to healthy children, was found.
Conclusions: Type 1 diabetes increases salivary catabolism of glycoconjugates reflected by the significant increase in the activity of HEX in the saliva of children with type 1 diabetes compared to healthy children. The salivary HEX activity may be used in the diagnosis of children with type 1 diabetes after confirmation of our results on a larger cohort of children with type 1 diabetes.