Effect of age on flow-rate, protein and electrolyte composition of stimulated whole saliva in healthy, non-smoking women.

As relatively little is known about the effect of age on salivary electrolytes we studied the composition of saliva as function of age to provide reference values for healthy non-smoking women. All non-medicated and non-smoking 30-59-year-old subjects (n=255) selected from among 1030 women participating in a screening program formed the material of the present study. Salivary calcium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, protein and flow-rate of stimulated whole saliva were measured. We found age-related changes in salivary calcium and phosphate concentrations (p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively, one-way ANOVA). Peak values occurred at around 50-54 years of age. Age had no effect on flow-rate, magnesium, sodium, potassium or proteins. The concentration of sodium correlated positively, while phosphate, potassium, magnesium and protein correlated negatively with the salivary flow-rate. Calcium was the only electrolyte which had no association with flow-rate. Our study provides reference values for salivary electrolytes of 30-59-year-old women.

Salivary calcium reflects skeletal bone density of heavy smokers.

OBJECTIVE: Our recent studies suggest, that elevated calcium concentration of saliva is characteristic of periodontitis. In this study we analyzed the effect of smoking on salivary calcium and bone density by comparing the level of salivary calcium and the ultrasound scale of bone density of heavy smokers to those of non-smokers. DESIGN: Salivary samples were collected from 603 women (50-62 years) participating in a pre-screen referral program for osteoporosis. Out of this group a total of 577 were accepted for the present study. General health, medications and tobacco smoking were recorded. The group included 487 non-smokers, 37 moderate smokers (1-10 cigarettes per day) and 53 heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes per day). Bone density was measured at the right heel by the quantitative ultrasound technique. Calcium and phosphate concentrations of saliva were measured and expressed as microg/ml of saliva. RESULTS: The ultrasonographic variables of the heel, broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) and T-score (a standard deviation unit from mean values of healthy young adults) of heavy smokers were significantly lower than those of women who did not smoke (P = 0.007, 0.014 and 0.011, respectively). Salivary calcium concentration of heavy smokers 70.5 (14.6) microg/ml was higher than that of non-smokers 64.0 (14.1) microg/ml (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in salivary phosphate level or in the salivary flow rate between heavy smokers and non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy smokers seem to have lower bone mineral density and higher salivary calcium than their non-smoking counterparts. We suggest that the high salivary calcium concentration of smokers is in connection with skeletal calcium disturbances.

Salivary variables in relation to tobacco smoking and female sex steroid hormone-use in 30 to 59-year-old women.

Several systemic conditions may have an influence on oral health. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has a positive effect on alveolar bone of menopausal women and smoking a negative effect. However, little is known about their effect on saliva. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hormone-use and tobacco smoking on the composition of saliva, in particular on the inorganic constituents. Salivary samples were collected from a representative study group comprising 1,013 women (30-59 years) participating in a pre-screen referral program for osteoporosis. The participants were divided into 2 subgroups according to age. The younger group (< or = 45 years) comprised 413 women and the older group (> or = 50 years) 600 women. Salivary calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, inorganic phosphate, total protein, and flow rate of paraffin-stimulated saliva were measured. In the older age group, female sex steroid users (hormone users) had lower salivary protein concentrations than non-users. Smoking was associated with high salivary calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels in the group of older participants. Neither tobacco smoking nor female sex steroid hormones had any significant effect on the salivary composition in the younger age group. In conclusion, smoking was reflected more clearly than female sex steroid hormone-use in the inorganic composition of saliva in the older age group. The salivary composition was not affected by hormone-use or by smoking among the younger age group.