Salivary amylase activity of the aged.
Previous studies from America and Japan have reported that salivary amylase activity was reduced in the elderly. In contrast to these studies, a recent Chinese study reported an increase in salivary amylase activity in the aged. Our study examined approximately equal numbers of Chinese and non-Chinese Americans. The concentration of salivary amylase was estimated from the activity obtained with a colormetric coupled assay utilizing 4NP-G7. Activity was found to be increased in the aged. Our data are discussed with respect to the claims of the previous studies.
Wang
C H
CH
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine.
Woolfolk
C A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States
D000681:Amylases