Stimulated and Unstimulated Saliva Levels of Calcium and Magnesium in Giardiasis

Giardia lamblia causes malabsorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum and saliva calcium and magnesium levels in patients with giardiasis. Thirty patients with giardiasis as a case and 30 person without giardiasis as a control group were enrolled. The stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva and serum calcium and magnesium levels were assayed by Arsenazo reaction and xylidyl blue complex methods, respectively. Mean calcium and magnesium level was low in serum and stimulated saliva of case group than that of controls. However, they were higher in the unstimulated saliva of the case group. It is suggested that patients suffering from giardiasis have low calcium and magnesium levels, and they lose the most of calcium and magnesium by saliva during unstimulated condition.