Sabella, Fernanda MariaKatzenelson, Renata ThomazCarvalho, Fabíola Galbiatti deDuque, CristianeDarrieux, MichelleMarson, Fernando Augusto LimaParisotto, Thaís Manzano2025-09-022025-09-022025-06-17Sabella, F. M., Katzenelson, R. T., Carvalho, F. G. D., & Duque, C. et al. (2025). Exploring salivary biomarkers in pediatric obesity: a scoping review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(12), Article 5789. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms261257891661-65961c2a1631-6c28-4929-895f-957c14c25dabhttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/54586Childhood obesity and overweight are linked to subclinical inflammatory conditions. The present manuscript aimed to undertake a scoping review exploring the relationship between childhood obesity and salivary biomarkers to answer the following question: “Are salivary biomarkers trustful factors/indicators for childhood obesity?” The main search terms used were: “obesity and salivary biomarkers and children” (Pubmed, Scielo, Scopus, Embase databases: 1999–2025). Assessed articles were carefully classified according to a predetermined criterion (Newcastle–Ottawa Scale), and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were considered. Papers involving children >13 years, duplicates/triplicates, literature reviews, and non-related to the question addressed were excluded. More than 30 salivary biomarkers were assessed in the thirteen studies appraised. Three studies were rated as having a high level of evidence, two as moderate, and eight as having a low level. Fourteen biomarkers were found to be significantly increased in childhood obesity/overweight (p < 0.05): leptin, insulin, α-amylase, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, C-reactive protein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, resistin, phosphate, nitric oxide, interleukin 1β, uric acid and fetuin-A; and three were found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.05): adiponectin, secretory immunoglobulin A, and interleukin-12p70. In conclusion, the present review supported the idea that saliva might be a promising diagnostic tool in early life and that it is a significant source of obesity biomarkers in children.engBiomarkersPediatric obesitySalivareview article10.3390/ijms26125789105008990989PMC1219358740565251001516124600001