Stimulated saliva flow rate patterns in children: A six-year longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether the stimulated saliva flow rate (SSFR) is a variable and unpredictable characteristic as healthy children grow-up.


METHODS
Seven-year-old school children (53 boys and 57 girls) were recruited to measure their SSFR in mL/min. Paraffin-stimulated saliva was collected from each child at baseline and once annually, over six years. Forty-four boys and 46 girls remained in the cohort (dropout rate 18%). Cluster analysis was applied to evaluate the natural grouping of individuals according to their SSFR. Partition analysis was applied to calculate the SSFR cut-off value to predict a child's salivation trend.


RESULTS
Cluster analysis revealed that as they grew-up these children consistently showed one of three different SSFR patterns. The cut-off values to predict a child's salivation trend were 1.76 mL/min for the high SSFR cluster, and 0.5 mL/min for the low SSFR cluster.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that a high or low SSFR is a constant individual trait in children.
Leonor
Sánchez-Pérez
SP
Area for Research in Clinical Sciences, Health Attention Department, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Xochimilco Unit, Mexico City, Mexico. tlsperez@correo.xoc.uam.mx
Laura
Saénz-Martínez
SM
Esther
Irigoyen-Camacho
IC
Marco
Zepeda-Zepeda
ZZ
Enrique
Acosta-Gío A
AG
Ignacio
Méndez-Ramírez
MR
D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical