Analysis of the Composition of Mixed Saliva in Healthy Subjects and Diabetic Patients by Capillary Electrophoresis.

The quality of saliva is an important factor in the retention and stability of the denture. Recently, the composition of mixed saliva was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis, which permits various analysis depending on the selection of the electrophoretic condition. First, electrophoretic conditions were evaluated, then properties of mixed saliva were studied according to age, and components that show more notable changes with aging were identified. Differences in the composition of mixed saliva between healthy subjects and diabetic patients aged 60 years and above were also analyzed.Mixed saliva was sampled from 34 healthy subjects, 8 aged 10 years or less, 10 in their 20s, 10 in their 30s, and 6 aged 60years and above. Mixed saliva was sampled also from 17 patients with diabetes mellitus, which was insulin dependent in 11 and non-insulin dependent in 6.Thirty-two peaks were detected in mixed saliva. The frequency of the appearance of peaks showed no male-female difference, but there were some differences according to age. The concentrations of the peaks were lower in the diabetic patients than in the healthy subjects of the same age level. Of the 32 peaks, those of lysozyme and lactoferrin, which are related to the antibacterial activity, and uric acid, whose serum concentration is altered in diabetic patients, were identified.The lactoferrin did not appear in mixed saliva of 60 years and above healthy subjects using denture, but it appeared in mixed saliva of diabetic patients with low frequency of appearance and low concentration.The concentration of lysozyme and uric acid were slightly higher in the healthy subjects with age, although the differences were not significant.