title: Biochemical modifications of human whole saliva induced by pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess human unstimulated whole saliva components during pregnancy, to determine the relation, if any, between pregnancy and oral health, particularly total protein concentration, alpha-amylase activity, sialic acid content and calcium and phosphate concentrations were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five healthy primigravid women; 15 nonpregnant women acted as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1. A higher total protein content at 10 and 21 weeks of gestation with respect to the controls and to pregnant women at 40 weeks; 2. a higher alpha-amylase activity at 10 and 21 weeks of gestation compared with the controls and to pregnant women at 40 weeks; 3. an increased sialic acid content at 21 and 40 weeks; 4. decreased calcium and phosphorus concentrations at 21 and 40 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy modifies saliva composition. This could play a pivotal role in the incidence of pregnancy-induced dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salvolini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Giorgio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curatola
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fratto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009909:Oral Health; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D010758:Phosphorus; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D002118:Calcium