 A 2010 study found that elevation of three saliva biomarkers (MMP-8, TIMP-1, and ICTP), particularly when analyzed using time-resolved immunofluorometric assay, was suggestive of periodontitis.In 2011 Punyadeera, et al., studied “the clinical utility of salivary C-reactive protein levels in assessing coronary events such as myocardial infarction in a primary health care setting.” Researchers found that saliva CRP levels in cardiac patients were significantly higher when compared to healthy controls.Furthermore, they found that saliva CRP correlated with serum CRP in cardiac patients and, thus, could be a useful tool for “large patient screening studies for risk assessment of coronary events.”

Cardio-protective nitric oxide is generated in the body by a family of specific enzymes, nitric oxide synthase.