Studies of the Effect of Diet on Saliva Secretion and Caries Development: The Effect of Fasting on Saliva Composition of Female Subjects

In the present investigation 11 females of normal constitution were subjected to a standardized fasting diet for 8 days. Three subjects dropped out early during the experimental period. Saliva and blood samples were collected before, during and after the fasting period. Serum analyses were made of some parameters often studied during undernutrition. As expected, values for creatinine and uric acid were increased. Secretion rate, pH, buffer capacity, electrolytes, total protein, carbohydrates, some antibacterial substances, the amount of Streptococcus mutans, total streptococci, and lactobacilli were determined in the saliva samples. The rate of plaque formation was also estimated. The effect of fasting on the measured parameters varied greatly among the individuals. Fasting caused a significant decrease in secretion rate, concentration of phosphate and sialic acid in stimulated whole saliva. There was no significant increase in concentration of any substance measured. The decrease of the ratio of sialic acid to protein indicates a disturbance of glycoprotein synthesis. In resting saliva the activity of a bacteria-aggregating glycoprotein appeared to be unchanged, whereas the decreases in thiocyanate concentration and lysozyme activity were statistically significant. Lactoperoxidase activities did not change significantly. The amount of IgA, IgG, IgM as well as the microbial counts showed no changes. The rate of plaque formation increased during fasting.