Study of unstimulated salivary flow rate, total protein, albumin concentration and estimated albumin globulin ratio changes in normal adults according to age and gender

Abstract

Background: Saliva which has a vital role in oral health is a complex fluid provided by salivary glands. Aging causes salivary glands hypofunction that affects the quantity and quality of saliva. Hence in this study flow rate, protein, albumin and albumin globulin ratio of saliva was compared in two age groups, in order to have broader assumption of gender and age-related changes of oral health in normal adults. Material and method: This is an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted on 250 healthy adult volunteers after approval from Kabul University of medical sciences research committee. Before collecting saliva, the informed consent form was signed by them. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected in sterile tube by drooling method for five minutes. Flow rate collected for five minutes and calculated on milliliters per minutes. After centrifugation for five minutes at 600rpm salivary total protein, albumin was measured by semi-autoanalyzer. Estimated Albumin globulin ratio was calculated by dividing albumin to estimated globulin concentration. Total protein and albumin were calculated by the biuret and bromocresol green method respectively. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 21. Mann Whitney U test was performed for comparison of variables between age group 18-30 and 31-65 years old. Result: In this study among 250 volunteers there were 128 males and 122 females. The mean age was 32 years old. There were 136 participants in age group 18-30 years and 114 in the age group 31-65 years. Flow rate, total protein concentration was lower in group of 31-65 than 18-30 years. The flow rate was lower in females than males but decrease in protein concentration was not gender dependent. Albumin, albumin globulin ratio increased in age group 31-65 years. Albumin was not gender dependent but the albumin globulin ratio was significantly higher in males than females. Conclusion: Flow rate significantly decreased in the age group 31-65 years and more distinct in women than men so suggestive of increased incidence of caries in women. Increased level of albumin in age group 31-65years is suggestive of increase risk of oral inflammatory diseases in this age group. In addition, as the level of albumin globulin ratio was higher after age 30 and more obvious in male adults so it can be assumed that resistance against oral cavity diseases is much lower in men than women in the age group 31-65years.