Low IL-10, Higher Oral Problems: What a New Study Reveals About Diabetes and Oral Health
Why This Matters
People living with diabetes often hear about complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, or nerves—but oral health is rarely part of the conversation. Yet dry mouth, gum disease, and slow-healing wounds in the mouth are surprisingly common. A new study from Universitas Padjadjaran shines light on one possible biological clue: lower levels of an anti-inflammatory molecule called IL-10.
This research helps explain why some diabetes patients develop oral issues while others do not, and suggests a potential biomarker for early detection.
The Bigger Picture: Diabetes and the Immune System
Diabetes is not only a metabolic disease—it also disrupts the immune system. When blood sugar remains high, the body produces more inflammatory signals and fewer anti-inflammatory molecules.
One of the most important among them is Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cytokine known for calming inflammation and supporting tissue repair.
Previous research hinted that IL-10 tends to be lower in people with diabetes, but no studies had directly compared IL-10 levels between diabetic patients with and without oral symptoms—until now.
What the Researchers Wanted to Know
The study asked a straightforward but important question:
Do diabetic patients with oral manifestations have lower IL-10 levels than those without oral symptoms—and compared to healthy individuals?
Understanding this could help clinicians identify which patients are at higher risk of oral complications.
How the Study Was Conducted
The research team analyzed 88 serum samples collected at Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, divided into three groups:
37 healthy (non-diabetic) individuals
35 diabetes patients with oral manifestations
16 diabetes patients without oral manifestations
Researchers measured IL-10 levels using ELISA, a standard laboratory method for detecting biomarkers in blood.
The oral conditions assessed included xerostomia (dry mouth), gum disease, oral ulcers, candidiasis, exfoliative cheilitis, and others.
What They Found
1. Xerostomia was the most common oral issue
Among the 35 diabetic patients with oral symptoms:
80% had xerostomia, aligning with previous studies linking high blood sugar to reduced saliva production.
2. IL-10 levels were significantly different across the groups
Average serum IL-10 levels were:
0.93 pg/mL — healthy individuals
0.80 pg/mL — diabetes with oral manifestations
1.08 pg/mL — diabetes without oral manifestations
A statistical test showed significant differences (p = 0.008).
3. The lowest IL-10 levels were in diabetic patients with oral symptoms
Post-hoc analysis confirmed:
IL-10 was significantly lower in diabetic patients with oral issues compared with both
healthy individuals, and
diabetic patients without oral manifestations.
Interestingly, IL-10 levels in healthy people and diabetic patients without oral issues were not significantly different.
What This Means
The study suggests that reduced IL-10 may be linked to the development of oral complications in diabetes.
Why does this matter?
IL-10 suppresses inflammation and aids tissue repair.
Lower IL-10 may make oral tissues more vulnerable to infections, dryness, or slow healing.
Measuring IL-10 could potentially serve as an early warning marker for patients at higher risk.
This does not mean IL-10 is the only factor—blood sugar levels, oral hygiene, medications, and other immune changes also play roles. But IL-10 appears to be an important piece of the puzzle.
Study Limitations
The authors note several constraints:
Cross-sectional design → cannot determine cause-and-effect.
Missing data on key factors like diabetes duration, HbA1c levels, or smoking.
Small sample size in the “diabetes without oral symptoms” group.
Future longitudinal studies could clarify whether declining IL-10 predicts worsening oral health.
Takeaway
This study highlights a clear pattern: diabetes patients with oral manifestations have lower IL-10 levels than both healthy individuals and diabetes patients without oral issues. Monitoring IL-10 may help clinicians identify patients at greatest risk and guide more personalized oral-health management.
Original Article
Nur’aeny N, Widiasta A, Novianti Y, Zakiawati D, Pratidina NB, Sufiawati I. Lower Serum IL-10 Linked to Oral Manifestations in Diabetes Patients. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity. 2025;18:75–83.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S492765