Stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva compositions of dental female students, Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2005 Dr. F. Aghahosseini* - Dr. E. Dizgah** - Dr. S. Amirkhani*** *- Associate Professor of Diagnosis and Oral Diseases Dept. - Faculty of Dentistry – Tehran University of Medical Sciences. **- Physiologist: Phisiology Dept. Faculty of Medicine – Tehran University of Medical Sciences. *** - Dentist. Abstract Background and Aim: Advantages in the use of saliva (easy access and non – invasive collection) have caused it to be a unique fluid as a diagnostic medium during recent years. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva biochemical compositions in healthy female dental students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences living in dormitories. Materials and Methods: In a case series study 5ml of stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva samples were obtained from expectations of female students with a mean age of 22 (19-24) years in May and June 2005. Sodium concentration was measured by Flame – photometry method and other saliva compositions were measured by spectrophotometer and related kits as follows: total protein by the Biuret method, Ca++ by Arsenazo reaction and magnesium by the Xylidyle blue complex method. Data were analyzed for mean, standard deviation (SD) and standard error of measurement (SEM) using SPSS program. Student's unpaired t – test was used to compare stimulated and unstimulated saliva compositions. Results: In the unstimulated whole saliva (n=20), the concentrations (mean±SD) of total protein (mg/ml), magnesium (mmol/l), calcium (mmol/l) and sodium (mmol/l) were 6.19±2.80, 1.19±0.44, 1.90±0.70, 13.95±2.01, respectively. In the stimulated whole saliva (n=20), these values were 3.73±1.97, 1.75±0.60, 2.03±0.76 and 18.15±4.31 respectively. Conclusion: No statistically significant difference was found in calcium values between the stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva where as in stimulated saliva sodium and magnesium levels were significantly higher and total protein level were lower than unstimulated saliva. Key words: Saliva compositions, Unstimulated saliva – Stimulated saliva. Correspondence: Diagnosis and Oral Diseases Dept. Faculty of Dentistry Tehran Univ of Med Sci aghahose@sina.tums.ac.ir |