The relationship between the levels of salivary cortisol and the presence of xerostomia in menopausal women. A preliminary study.
Xerostomia is a particularly frequent occurrence among menopausal women, and is often associated with depression.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between unstimulated salivary flow rate and the presence of xerostomia, and to determine the levels of salivary cortisol and its relationship with xerostomia.


METHODS
Thirty women were selected from patients attending the Department of Medicine and Buccofacial surgery, and formed into two groups, study and control. Samples of unstimulated salivary flow were collected, and the amounts of salivary cortisol determined using the ELISA technique (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).


RESULTS
The mean unstimulated salivary flow rates for the control and study group were 0.37 +/- 0.28 ml/min and 0.24 +/- 0.18 ml/min, respectively. The concentration of salivary cortisol was 3.47 +/- 1.64 ng/ml for the control group and 2.29 +/- 2.60 ng/ml for the study group. The statistical tests applied showed no significant differences for either variable between the two groups in the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicate that there is no relationship between variations in the rates of unstimulated salivary flow and the corresponding concentration of cortisol.
Rivera Gómez
Begoña
B
Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Bucofacial, Facultad de Odontología, UCM, Madrid. brivera@eresmas.com
Hernández Vallejo
Gonzalo
G
Arriba de la Fuente
Lorenzo
L
López Cantor
Margarita
M
Díaz
Milagros
M
López Pintor
Rosa Maria
RM
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology
D006854:Hydrocortisone