IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor-f) is probably the most potent anticata-bolic and anabolic hormone. There are recent data in vivo and in vitro in animals according to which apoptosis of cells can be stopped by IGF-I. In­sulin like growth factor binding pro-tein-l (IGFBP-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) are the best characterized of circulating insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. IGFBPs are not only present in serum but are also pro­duced locally by many different cells where they may have important func­tions in binding and/or targeting IGF-I for the respective receptors. The aim of this study was to measure serum IGF-I and its binding proteins versus
their levels in whole saliva in 30 pa­tients with periodontitis and to com­pare these with the levels found in 30 healthy age- and sex matched con­trols. Serum insulin and IGFBP-3 were measured using immunoradio-metricassay (IRMA) method while serum growth hormone, IGF-I, and IGFBP-I have been estimated utilizing ELISA method. Salivary IGF-I and IGFBP-1 have been measured using ELISA procedure while salivary IGFBP-3 has been measured by IRMA method. The serum levels of in­sulin, human growth hormone, IGF-I, IGFPB-I and -3 have not shown sig­nificant differences between the pa­tients and healthy subjects. Salivary total protein was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls.