Salivary Flow, Biochemical Profile and Selected Antibacterial Properties of Saliva in Menopausal Women
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Periodontology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
- 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-214 Gdansk, Poland
- 3Department of Conservative Dentistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
- 4Department of Biostatistics and Neural Networks, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate differences in selected physicochemical and antibacterial properties of saliva between menopausal and premenopausal women. Methods: The study population consisted of 30 menopausal women and 22 premenopausal women assigned to the control group. Laboratory analyses included the assessment of unstimulated salivary flow rate, pH, concentration of total protein, lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulin A (IgA), inorganic phosphates, and ionized calcium. Only participants with clinically healthy periodontal tissues were included in the study. Results: Among menopausal women, statistically significant differences were observed in values of salivary flow rate, total protein, inorganic phosphates, and ionized calcium; however, no statistically significant differences for pH, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and IgA values were found. The unstimulated salivary flow rate parameter in the study group was significantly lower than in premenopausal women. Concentrations of total protein, inorganic phosphates, and ionized calcium in saliva of menopausal women were distinctly higher than in the control group. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate a distinct alteration in salivary homeostasis characterized by significantly reduced salivary flow and increased concentrations of calcium, inorganic phosphate, and total protein between menopausal and premenopausal women. It suggests that menopause may predominantly affect the quantitative secretion and physicochemical composition of saliva rather than causing a generalized impairment of its antimicrobial and immune components. Longitudinal studies that control for age and other relevant factors, including menopausal duration, hormone therapy, and periodontal status, and that evaluate both salivary concentrations and individual analyte output rates are needed to clarify which salivary changes are independently associated with menopause and to determine their clinical relevance to oral health.
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BibTeX
@article{ciesielska2026salivary,
title = {{Salivary Flow, Biochemical Profile and Selected Antibacterial Properties of Saliva in Menopausal Women}},
author = {Aleksandra Ciesielska and Aida Kusiak and Magdalena Emilia Grzybowska and Barbara Kochańska and Jolanta Ochocińska and Dominika Cichońska and Dariusz Świetlik},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15207934},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7934},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Salivary Flow, Biochemical Profile and Selected Antibacterial Properties of Saliva in Menopausal Women
AU - Aleksandra Ciesielska
AU - Aida Kusiak
AU - Magdalena Emilia Grzybowska
AU - Barbara Kochańska
AU - Jolanta Ochocińska
AU - Dominika Cichońska
AU - Dariusz Świetlik
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15207934
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7934
AB - Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate differences in selected physicochemical and antibacterial properties of saliva between menopausal and premenopausal women. Methods: The study population consisted of 30 menopausal women and 22 premenopausal women assigned to the control group. Laboratory analyses included the assessment of unstimulated salivary flow rate, pH, concentration of total protein, lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulin A (IgA), inorganic phosphates, and ionized calcium. Only participants with clinically healthy periodontal tissues were included in the study. Results: Among menopausal women, statistically significant differences were observed in values of salivary flow rate, total protein, inorganic phosphates, and ionized calcium; however, no statistically significant differences for pH, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and IgA values were found. The unstimulated salivary flow rate parameter in the study group was significantly lower than in premenopausal women. Concentrations of total protein, inorganic phosphates, and ionized calcium in saliva of menopausal women were distinctly higher than in the control group. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate a distinct alteration in salivary homeostasis characterized by significantly reduced salivary flow and increased concentrations of calcium, inorganic phosphate, and total protein between menopausal and premenopausal women. It suggests that menopause may predominantly affect the quantitative secretion and physicochemical composition of saliva rather than causing a generalized impairment of its antimicrobial and immune components. Longitudinal studies that control for age and other relevant factors, including menopausal duration, hormone therapy, and periodontal status, and that evaluate both salivary concentrations and individual analyte output rates are needed to clarify which salivary changes are independently associated with menopause and to determine their clinical relevance to oral health.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -