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Composition of whole unstimulated saliva of healthy children: changes with age

H Ben-Aryeh1, M Fisher, R Szargel

  • 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.

Archives of Oral Biology
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Saliva composition changes significantly with age, showing increases in sodium, total protein, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and amylase activity from infancy through adulthood. These findings highlight the importance of age-matched controls in clinical saliva studies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Physiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Saliva plays a crucial role in oral health and serves as a diagnostic fluid.
  • Understanding salivary composition changes during development is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-related changes in the biochemical composition of whole unstimulated saliva.
  • To determine if salivary gland maturation influences key salivary components.

Main Methods:

  • Collected whole unstimulated saliva from 136 healthy individuals across five age groups: infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults.
  • Measured concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), total protein, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and amylase activity.

Main Results:

  • Significant positive linear correlations with age were observed for Na, total protein, IgA, and amylase activity.
  • Significant differences in K and IgA concentrations were found between various age groups.
  • Salivary amylase activity showed high variability, with significant differences only between infants and toddlers.

Conclusions:

  • Salivary composition undergoes significant developmental changes throughout childhood and adolescence.
  • These changes indicate a maturation process of the salivary glands.
  • Age-matched controls are crucial for the reliable clinical application of saliva analysis.

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