title: Composition of whole unstimulated saliva of healthy children: changes with age.
abstract: Whole unstimulated saliva was collected from 136 healthy subjects divided into 5 groups according to age: (1) 25 infants, 7-11 months old; (2) 28 toddlers, 2-3 yr old; (3) 28 children, 6-8 yr old; (4) 28 adolescents, 12-14 yr old; (5) 27 adults, 25-63 yr old. The concentrations of Na, K, total protein, IgA and amylase activity were measured. A significant ascending linear correlation with age was found for concentrations of Na, total protein, IgA and amylase activity. There were significant differences between age groups in K and IgA concentrations. Salivary amylase activity was very variable, and a significant difference was found between infants and toddlers only. Salivary composition thus changes significantly during childhood, implying a process of development and maturation of the salivary glands and indicating the need of age-matched controls for the clinical use of saliva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben-Aryeh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szargel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D012964:Sodium; D000681:Amylases; D011188:Potassium