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The ontogeny of saliva secretion in infants and esophagoprotection

Edgard Ferro Collares1, Maria Inez Machado Fernandes2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Arquivos De Gastroenterologia
|June 4, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Infants exhibit higher saliva secretion, offering esophageal protection against acid. This enhanced salivary capacity may explain the low incidence of severe reflux esophagitis in early life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Infant Physiology

Background:

  • Severe reflux esophagitis is uncommon in infants despite frequent regurgitation.
  • Saliva plays a crucial role in protecting the esophageal lining.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate salivary secretion capacity in infants.
  • To understand the protective role of saliva in infant esophageal health.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of healthy infants.
  • Measurement of stimulated saliva secretion capacity (output per kg body weight).

Main Results:

  • Infants aged 0-1 year showed significantly higher stimulated saliva secretion than older children and adults.
  • Elevated saliva secretion was also noted in low-weight newborns and infants with severe protein-calorie malnutrition (marasmus).

Conclusions:

  • Increased saliva production in infants is a key physiological factor.
  • This heightened salivary capacity likely protects the infant esophagus from acid and pepsin damage during development.
Abstract

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