title: Beta-galactosidase activity in saliva is associated with oral malodor.
abstract: Deglycosylation of oral mucins may be a critical initial step leading to their subsequent proteolysis and putrefaction. The present study was undertaken to determine whether activity in saliva of a major glycosidic enzyme (beta-galactosidase) is associated with oral malodor in a group of 64 subjects. Enzyme activity was detected by the use of a chromogenic substrate (X-Gal) impregnated on paper discs. Malodor-related measurements included two odor judges' assessments of whole-mouth and tongue malodor, and volatile sulfide levels measured by a portable sulfide monitor (Interscan Corp.). Beta-galactosidase assay scores were significantly associated with both odor judges' scores for whole-mouth (p < or = 0.002; Spearman) and tongue malodor (p < or = 0.001; Spearman). Beta-galactosidase activity and sulfide monitor measurements both factored significantly into multiple regression equations for odor judge scores, yielding multiple r-values ranging from 0.47 (p = 0.0007) to 0.60 (p < 0.0001). Analysis of the data presented indicates that beta-galactosidase activity in saliva is correlated with oral malodor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, Israel. melros@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sterer
authors.forename: R Bar-Ness
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Greenstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005260:Female; D005697:Galactosides; D006209:Halitosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D015588:Observer Variation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012903:Smell; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005697:Galactosides; D007211:Indoles; D009077:Mucins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D013440:Sulfides; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside