title: Basic amino acid in the pathogenesis of caries.
abstract: Amino acid pattern in total saliva was studied in 43 children with caries, aged 12-15 years, using the method of ion exchange chromatography. The results were compared to those obtained in a control group of 39 children without caries. In saliva from the children with caries, a significantly lower level of arginine (22.02 mumol/l), and a complete lack of histidine and its derivatives were observed when compared to the control group, where the concentrations of arginine and 1-methylhistidine were 28.36 and 26.34 mumol/l, respectively. The results obtained suggested that a decreased concentration of arginine, and a lack of histidine and its derivatives might imply an increased risk of caries.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Zagreb.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vranić
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Granić
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rajić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006639:Histidine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D008762:Methylhistidines; D006639:Histidine; D001120:Arginine