Abstract
Circadian variations have been demonstrated in unstimulated submandibular saliva from 15 subjects for flow-rate, pH and concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, inorganic and total phosphate, protein, nitrogen and carbohydrate. Calcium and protein rhythms were found in only 12 subjects and calcium and pH rhythms were less reproducible from day to day than were other rhythms. A combination of a fundamental sine wave of 24 hr period and its first harmonic was found to fit the data in 164 of the 180 data cycles studied. The rhythms of salivary constituents did not appear to be due to the rhythm shown by salivary flow-rates. Rhythms were similar in phasing to that of oral temperature with the exception of those for sodium, calcium, chloride and carbohydrate concentrations. The extent of circadian variation from maximum to minimum was approx 40–50 per cent of the mean value for most constituents. Changes in concentration of salivary components in unstimulated submandibular saliva due to circadian variation are likely to be least in the early afternoon. Considerable variation between subjects in timing of rhythms was found.
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