Expression of ghrelin in human salivary glands and its levels in saliva and serum in Chinese obese children and adolescents

Parotid and submandibular glands were primary sources of ghrelin produced and released in saliva. Although whether salivary ghrelin could be useful in the diagnosis of obesity remains to be determined, salivary ghrelin might be a possible alternative to serum ghrelin for predicting obesity.