title: The activity of salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to describe the changes in the activity of ALDH3A1 in saliva in relation to the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. We also measured major salivary antioxidants, salivary peroxidase (SPO) activity and uric acid (UA) concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting saliva samples were collected from 63 women with uncomplicated pregnancies and from 39 healthy women of reproductive age, but not pregnant. Saliva samples were also collected from 10 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles in the early follicular, the mid-cycle and the mid-luteal phase during one menstrual cycle. SPO and ALDH3A1 activity was determined fluorimetrically, whereas UA concentration photometrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ALDH3A1 did not vary significantly among phases of menstrual cycle. However, the enzyme activity decreased with the length of pregnancy and in the third trimester is significantly lower than that in the saliva of non-pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower concentration of UA and in the third trimester the activity of ALDH3A1 in saliva of pregnant women could be a risk factor of, e.g. oral pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioanalysis and Drugs Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Street, PL-02097 Warsaw, Poland. joanna.giebultowicz@wum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giebułtowicz
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wroczyński
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosiński
authors.forename: Bronisława
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pietrzak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000378:metabolism; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014527:Uric Acid; D009195:Peroxidase; C480021:ALDH3A1 protein, human; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase