Parotid gland flow activity and inorganic composition in purging bulimic patients treated with fluoxetine

The purpose of this study was to establish whether vomiting bulimic and/or non-bulimic depressive patients, both treated with the serotonin reuptake inhibitor SI-5-HT (fluoxetine), have differing proportions of inorganic components (specifically, sodium, potassium and calcium) in their parotid salivary gland secretions, than in the average population.

A controlled clinical trial was designed for three age-matched female groups: bulimic patients receiving fluoxetine 40 mg/day (n = 33), non-bulimic patients diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder (fluoxetine 20 mg/day, n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 51). Parotid saliva was collected using a Lashley cap while the subjects were at rest. Stimulation was obtained chemically using a 3% citric acid solution, and physically by instructing the subjects to chew on wax pellets. The concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium ions were measured using the colorimetric photometry method.

The bulimic patients had a reduction in flow and sodium and potassium ions in the parotid saliva and non-bulimic patients had a reduction in flow. Deficits in certain components of saliva were shown to be directly related to salivary flow rate.

The data suggest that detection of inorganic deficits in parotid saliva might serve as a reliable confirmation of reduction in flow amongst purging bulimic patients treated with fluoxetine.