Salivary Content Might be Associated With Skeletal Status in Postmenopausal Women: SilesiaOsteoActive Study Results

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether salivary mineral content may be associated with bone status in women after menopause. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 125 postmenopausal women aged 64.3 ± 6.9 yr, derived from the epidemiological SilesiaOsteoActive Study. All participants underwent hip and spine bone densitometry using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, dental examination, and saliva content analysis. Data for salivary pH, copper, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc concentrations were evaluated. Results: Mean femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was 0.739 ± 0.118 g/cm2, total hip BMD 0.891 ± 0.14 g/cm2, and spine BMD 0.868 ± 0.14 g/cm2. Salivary pH was significantly lower in women with spinal osteoporosis defined as T-score below −2.5, compared to individuals with normal BMD (pH: 6.65 ± 0.67 vs 6.96 ± 0.58, p < 0.05). There was a significant though weak inverse correlation between Ca concentration in saliva and femoral neck BMD (r = −0.23, p < 0.05). Conclusions: High salivary calcium content and low salivary pH may be indicative of low hip and decreased spine BMD, respectively. These associations may reflect demineralization process (calcium redistribution) influencing bone, and a negative effect of acidity on mineral tissues, although causal pathway remains not clear.