Flow rates and inorganic composition of whole saliva in purging bulimic patients treated with a fluoxetine

Abstract

Objectives. The current study established whether vomiting bulimic and/or non-bulimic depressive patients, both treated with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine), have changes in their whole salivary secretion and inorganic components: Na+, K+, Ca2+. Methods. From 108 female subjects, namely bulimics (Group B) (fluoxetine: 40 mg/day) (n = 33), non-bulimic depressives (Group D) (fluoxetine: 20 mg/day) (n = 25) and a Group C of 50 healthy controls, unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected. The concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+ were determined by colorimetric photometry method (Effox 5053, Eppendorf, Germany). Results. The bulimic group reported significant lower output in salivary flow and sodium concentration. In the group (D) only flow was lower than in healthy controls but not significant. Conclusion. This study supports the hypothesis that salivary flow is an unreliable indicator of bulimia, the lack of increase in sodium level in stimulated saliva in bulimic subjects could be a more reliable confirmation of the eating disorder.