Influence of individual and subpopulation factors on the concentration of major and trace elements in saliva

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The determination of the major and trace element composition of saliva could be a promising approach for non-invasive health monitoring. Such investigations are constrained, nevertheless, by the potential impact of several variables on the concentration of the elements. AIM: To study the influence of individual and subpopulation factors of donors on the concentration of some major and trace elements in saliva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of the determination of elements concentration (Ag, Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Pb, Si, Ti, Zn) in the whole saliva of 60 donors by direct (without digestion) analysis by arc atomic emission spectrometry using the dry residue technique are presented. RESULTS: Distribution of concentrations in the sample for Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Si, Ti, and Zn showed a lognormal law; thus, the geometric mean or median is preferable as an indicator reflecting the average value. The distribution of Ca and P concentrations obeys the normal law. The concentration of Si and Ti is lower in the saliva of young men compared with women; the opposite pattern is observed for Mn. The mean Ag concentration in saliva is higher in the group of smokers than in non-smokers. Increase in the number of teeth affected by caries was correlated with an increase in concentrations of Cu, Al, and Zn in the saliva. For several analytes, interelement correlations were revealed, in particular, between the concentrations of Ca and P. CONCLUSION: The study of such factors of influence enables clinicians to determine the normal concentration ranges of major and trace elements in each specific clinical case with greater accuracy.