Abstract
Xerostomia is a symptom frequently present in patients with type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the present trial, the activity of an artificial saliva (aldiamed® spray) in comparison to a placebo spray were used to evaluate the xerostomia and the saliva antioxidant capacity (SAT). Sixty patients of both genders with T1DM or T2DM were randomized into two groups of 30 subjects each. The experiment was a double-blind study approved by the Ethics Committee of the “G. d’Annunzio University” of Chieti and Pescara. Moreover, measurements of the stimulated saliva flow rate and the ultrasonography of the submandibular and parotid glands were performed at both the study time points. The results demonstrated statistically significant differences between the treatments in terms of the xerostomia average score. Specifically, the values were at baseline and after 30 days 2.9 ± 1.31 and 3.0 ± 1.44 and 1.4 ± 1.48 and 2.4 ± 0.99 for aldiamed® spray and the placebo, respectively. Meanwhile, no statistically significant differences were shown between the two groups for the other variables, such as the salivary flow rate, the antioxidant capacity of the saliva, and the ultrasonography of the major salivary glands.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease due to a condition of chronic hyperglycemia [1]
This is defined as an unstimulated saliva flow rate of
It was decided to include in this study both type I and II diabetic patients, because no differences were reported in the literature in terms of xerostomia between these two types of Diabetes Mellitus [9]
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease due to a condition of chronic hyperglycemia [1]. The second condition often referred to as “dry mouth” is xerostomia, which refers to the patient’s subjective experience of a dry mouth These phenomena are closely associated, patients with hyposalivation do not necessarily report xerostomia. People with decreased salivary flow experience symptoms that may include the burning and itching of the oral mucosa and tongue They have trouble chewing, tasting, and swallowing foods and communicating with others [12]. The aetiology of dry mouth is unclear, but hyperglycemia in patients with DM results in polyuria and osmotic diuresis, causing dehydration, which is related to a reduced salivary flow. Many patients with DM suffer other complications related to this disease, for which they may receive drugs (e.g., anti-cholinergic and antihypertensive medication) which reduce the salivary flow and lead to xerostomia [14]. According to Montaldo et al in the case of hyposalivation in T2DM patients, a therapy with an immunologically active salivary substitute can be used for reducing the amount of plaque and gingivitis [18]
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