Saliva flow rate, amylase activity, and protein and electrolyte concentrations in saliva after acute alcohol consumption.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of acute alcohol consumption on saliva secretion rate and selected salivary parameters in healthy nonalcoholic volunteers.


METHODS
Twenty-four volunteers (37.7 +/- 9.6 years, mean +/- SD) consumed 0.6 g or 0.7 g alcohol/kg of body weight (for women and men, respectively) in a soft drink. Saliva samples were collected, first (S0) before any alcohol was consumed, 45 minutes after consumption (S1) and, finally, 60 minutes after S1 (S2). Flow rates of both resting whole saliva and paraffin-stimulated (SWS) whole saliva were assessed. SWS was assessed for amylase, total protein, inorganic phosphate (PO4(3-)), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) content.


RESULTS
SWS, but not resting whole saliva (in milliliters/minute), decreased significantly after consumption of alcohol. Amylase activity (P =.010) and the concentrations of Na+ (P =.000) and Ca2+ (P =.002) decreased significantly between S0 and S1. When SWS was analyzed for output, the total protein concentration (S0 to S1, P =.000; S0 to S2, P =.033) and amylase activity (S0 to S1, P =.000) decreased significantly. Further, the output of all the studied electrolytes decreased significantly as blood alcohol concentration increased.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that acute alcohol consumption causes a decrease in SWS flow rate. The decrease in flow rate also results in impaired output of total protein and amylase, as well as in a decrease in the output of electrolytes.
Enberg
N
N
Institute of Dentistry, Turku Immunology Centre and Department of Cariology, University of Turku, Finland. marlen@utu.fi
Alho
H
H
Loimaranta
V
V
Lenander-Lumikari
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000681:Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D004573:Electrolytes; D010710:Phosphates; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D000431:Ethanol; D012964:Sodium; D000681:Amylases; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium