Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Collecting Saliva and Measuring Salivary Cortisol and Alpha-amylase in Frail Community Residing Older Adults via Family Caregivers
Published on: December 18, 2013
Evaluation of salivary pH, buffering capacity, and total antioxidant capacity in children with sleep disorders
Isha Gore1, Vabitha Shetty1, Mausam Kumari1
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Deralakatte, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Children with sleep disorders showed a trend toward lower salivary pH, buffering capacity, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Saliva is a promising, noninvasive tool for assessing physiological changes in obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Biochemistry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Saliva is a valuable, noninvasive biomarker for systemic health assessment, including oxidative stress.
- Investigating salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in relation to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is crucial for understanding SDB's impact on children's health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare salivary pH, buffering capacity, and TAC in children with and without sleep disorders.
- To evaluate the potential of saliva as a diagnostic tool for SDB-related physiological changes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 56 children (6-11 years) divided into SDB and control groups.
- Salivary pH, buffering capacity, and TAC were measured using digital pH meter, acid challenge assay, and spectrophotometric assay, respectively.
- Statistical analysis included Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U-tests, with Cohen's d for effect size.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in salivary pH, buffering capacity, or TAC between children with and without SDB (P > 0.05).
- Effect sizes indicated negligible to small clinical differences for pH and buffering capacity.
- A moderate effect size for TAC suggests potential, though limited, clinical relevance.
Conclusions:
- Children with SDB exhibited a trend towards lower salivary pH, buffering capacity, and TAC.
- Saliva shows promise as a noninvasive medium for assessing physiological alterations in pediatric obstructive SDB.
- Further research may elucidate the clinical utility of salivary biomarkers in managing SDB in children.
Background:
Saliva offers a promising medium for assessing systemic health, including oxidative stress. Investigating the relationship between salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) may be crucial for understanding and assessing the impact of SDB in children.
Aim:
This study aims to evaluate and compare physiological parameters of salivary pH, buffering capacity, and TAC in children with and without sleep disorders.
Settings And Design:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 56 children (aged 6-11 years) visiting the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry. Participants were divided into a study group (n = 28) with a history of sleep problems and skeletal Class II malocclusion, and a control group (n = 28) without sleep problems and with normal skeletal relations.
Materials And Methods:
Unstimulated saliva samples were collected in the morning. Salivary pH and buffering capacity were determined using a digital pH meter and an acid challenge assay. Salivary TAC was estimated using the modified phosphomolybdenum spectrophotometric assay.
Statistical Analysis:
The statistical analysis was conducted using the Shapiro-Wilk test to assess normality of data and the Mann-Whitney U-test for intergroup comparisons. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d.
Results:
Intergroup comparison revealed that the median salivary pH, buffering capacity, and TAC did not differ significantly between the study and control group (P > 0.05 for all). Effect size calculation using Cohen's d showed negligible to small effects for pH and buffering capacity, and a moderate effect for TAC, indicating limited clinical differences.
Conclusion:
Children with sleep disorders showed a trend toward lower salivary pH, buffering capacity, and TAC values than children without sleep disorders. Saliva remains a promising, noninvasive medium for assessing the physiological changes associated with obstructive SDB in children.
More Related Videos
06:23A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice
Published on: September 22, 2020
08:20Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption