Comparative study of salivary acetaminophen concentration in Libyans, Senegalese and Sudanese

In the first of two experiments, acetaminophen (paracetamol) was measured in the saliva of healthy male and female Sudanese, Libyan and Senegalese volunteers. Saliva was collected 1 h after ingesting 1 g of the drug. In the second experiment, acetaminophen (1 g) was given orally to male Sudanese and Libyan volunteers, and saliva was collected 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h thereafter. The drug concentration in both experiments was measured by a modified spectrophotometric method with a detection limit of 1 microgram/ml. The results indicated that the salivary acetaminophen concentration in Sudanese was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in males than females by about 28%. In Libyans, the drug concentration in males was 19% higher than in females (insignificant, p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in salivary acetaminophen concentrations between Sudanese, Libyans and Senegalese volunteers, although male Senegalese had higher levels than the Sudanese and Libyans by 11.4 and 15.8%, respectively. Acetaminophen salivary concentrations in Sudanese were slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in Libyans 0.5 and 1.0 h after ingestion of the drug. Thereafter, there were no significant differences in the drug concentrations between the two groups (p > 0.1). The results of both experiments do not support the suggestion of inter-ethnic differences in acetaminophen clearance, but indicate that males may clear more of the drug through saliva than females.