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Composition of whole unstimulated saliva of human infants
Insights
Infant saliva shows higher calcium, magnesium, and chloride levels than adults, but lower phosphate, IgA, amylase, and pH. Salivary composition changes significantly with infant age throughout the first year.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Biochemistry
- Oral Health
Background:
- Salivary composition is crucial for oral health and development.
- Understanding infant salivary parameters is essential for pediatric care.
- Limited data exists on salivary composition in infants compared to adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare the whole unstimulated salivary composition of infants with adult reference values.
- To investigate the influence of age, feeding method, sex, and tooth eruption on infant salivary parameters.
- To establish normative salivary data for infants within their first year of life.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of whole unstimulated saliva from 168 infants (3 days to 12 months).
- Measurement of concentrations for calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl), phosphate, immunoglobulin A (IgA), amylase, sodium (Na), potassium (K), total protein, and pH.
- Statistical comparison between infants and adults, and within different infant age groups, feeding types, and sexes.
Main Results:
- Infant saliva exhibited higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Cl compared to adults.
- Lower concentrations of phosphate, IgA, amylase, and pH were observed in infants versus adults.
- Significant age-related variations were found in Na, K, Cl, phosphate, protein, amylase, and pH, with negative correlations for Na, K, Cl, and protein, and positive correlations for phosphate and amylase with age.
Conclusions:
- Infant salivary composition differs significantly from adults, particularly in mineral and enzyme content.
- Salivary parameters like Na, K, Cl, phosphate, protein, amylase, and pH undergo significant changes during the first year of life.
- These findings provide crucial insights into early oral environment development and potential implications for infant oral health.
Abstract:
Whole unstimulated saliva of 168 infants aged 3 days to 12 months was analysed. The concentration of Ca, Mg and Cl was higher in the saliva of infants than in adults. The concentration of phosphate, IgA, amylase and pH was lower in infants; Na, K and total protein did not differ significantly. A wide range of all the concentrations was observed in the saliva of infants. No significant difference was found between the salivary composition of male versus female or of breast-fed as compared to bottle-fed infants. No difference before and after eruption of teeth was detected. Significant differences between different age groups were observed in the concentrations of Na, K, Cl, phosphate, protein, amylase and pH. No significant differences were found in Ca, Mg and IgA concentrations within the first year. A negative correlation between the age of the infants and the concentrations of Na, K, Cl and total protein was observed. A positive correlation was found for phosphate and amylase as a function of age.