Salivary enzyme activity in anorexic persons—a controlled clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Oral medicine
• Biochemistry
• Eating disorders

Background:

• Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) face high risks of oral diseases.
• Salivary parameters in AN patients are not well understood.
• Investigating salivary differences may explain varying oral health outcomes in AN.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate salivary flow rates (stimulated and resting) in AN patients.
• To measure enzyme activities (amylase, AST, ALT, collagenase, lysozyme, peroxidase, proteases, trypsin) in AN patients' saliva.
• To compare these parameters between AN patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A clinical trial involving 66 participants.
• 28 patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
• 38 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Significantly lower stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rates were observed in the AN group.
• Elevated activities of collagenase and aspartate amino transferase (AST) in stimulated saliva of AN patients.
• Changes in acidic proteases, AST, and lysozyme activity upon salivary stimulation in the AN group.

Conclusions:

• Reduced salivary flow may serve as an indicator for anorexia nervosa.
• Salivary enzymes demonstrate physiological activity despite starvation, indicating partial adaptation.
• Further research is needed on the role of collagenase and transaminase in oral health protection for AN patients.