Salivary changes and dental erosion in bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to study if bulimia nervosa (BN) has an impact on salivary gland function and if such changes are related to dental erosion.


METHODS
Twenty women with BN and twenty age- and gender-matched controls participated. Flow rate and composition of whole and glandular saliva, as well as feeling of oral dryness were measured. Dental erosion was measured on casts.


RESULTS
Compared with control subjects, unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) flow rate was reduced in persons with BN, primarily owing to intake of medication (P = .007). No major compositional salivary changes were found. In the BN group, the dental erosion score was highest and complaints of oral dryness were more frequent.


CONCLUSIONS
The BN persons had impaired UWS, mainly owing to medication; increased feeling of oral dryness; and more dental erosion. Dental erosion was related to the duration of eating disorder, whereas no effect of vomiting frequency or intake of acidic drinks on reduced UWS was observed.
Dynesen
Anja Weirsøe
AW
Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. awd@odont.ku.dk
Bardow
Allan
A
Petersson
Birgit
B
Nielsen
Lene Rindal
LR
Nauntofte
Birgitte
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors