hunt sex

ORIGINAL PAPERS
Dent. Med. Probl. 2007, 44, 2, 172–176
ISSN 1644−387X
© Copyright by Silesian Piasts University of Medicine in Wrocław
and Polish Stomatological Association
KATARZYNA HERMAN
Influence of Vegetarian Diet on Calcium,
Magnesium and Carbonate Level in Saliva
Wpływ diety wegetariańskiej na stężenie wapnia, magnezu
i węglanów w ślinie
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Paedodontics, Silesian Piasts University of Medicine in Wrocław, Poland
Abstract
Background. Nowadays, a lot of people are interested in vegetarian diet. The possible influence of this diet on oral
health is still unclear.
Objectives. The aim of this study is to determine whether vegetarian diet may influence calcium, magnesium and
carbonates level in saliva.
Material and Methods. 92 healthy subjects, 64 women and 28 men were examined. They were divided into two
groups: I – vegetarian group and II – control group. Group I consisted of 46 vegetarians, 32 women and 14 men.
Group II consisted of age− and sex−matched omnivores. Unstimulated mixed saliva was collected. Values of its flow
rate and levels of calcium, magnesium and carbonates were determined. Output of these components was also cal−
culated.
Results. Average salivary flow rate was lower in group I but the difference was not statistically significant. Avera−
ge level of calcium was similar in both groups. Lower level and output of magnesium and carbonates were found
in group I. The difference in concentration and output of magnesium was statistically significant and the differen−
ce in concentration and output of carbonates was close to statistical significance.
Conclusions. Vegetarian diet reduces slightly unstimulated salivary flow rate and the level of carbonates but causes
significant decrease in saliva magnesium concentration (Dent. Med. Probl. 2007, 44, 2, 172–176).
Key words: vegetarian diet, saliva.
Streszczenie
Wprowadzenie. Obecnie obserwuje się powszechne zainteresowanie dietą wegetariańską. Ciągle nie jest wyja−
śniony wpływ tej diety na jamę ustną.
Cel pracy. Określenie wpływu diety wegetariańskiej na stężenie wapnia, magnezu i węglanów w ślinie.
Materiał i metody. Zbadano 92 zdrowe osoby, w tym 64 kobiety i 28 mężczyzn. Podzielono ich na 2 grupy:
I – grupa wegetarian i II – grupa kontrolna. Grupa I składała się z wegetarian, w tym z 32 kobiet i 14 mężczyzn.
Grupa II składała się ze sparowanych pod względem wieku i płci w odniesieniu do grupy I osób wszystkożernych.
Zbierano niestymulowaną ślinę mieszaną. Określono szybkość wydzielania śliny oraz stężenia wapnia, magnezu
i węglanów w ślinie. Wyliczono także szybkość wypływu tych składników śliny.
Wyniki. Średnia szybkość wydzielania śliny była mniejsza w grupie I, lecz różnica ta nie była istotna statystycz−
nie. Średnie stężenie wapnia było podobne w obu grupach. W grupie I wykazano mniejsze stężenia i szybkość wy−
pływu magnezu i węglanów w ślinie. Różnice w stężeniu i szybkości wypływu magnezu były istotne statystycz−
nie, a różnice w stężeniu i szybkości wypływu węglanów były zbliżone do istotności statystycznej.
Wnioski. Dieta wegetariańska nieznacznie zmniejsza szybkość wydzielania śliny niestymulowanej oraz stężenie wę−
glanów w ślinie, istotnie natomiast zmniejsza stężenie magnezu w ślinie (Dent. Med. Probl. 2007, 44, 2, 172–176).
Słowa kluczowe: dieta wegetariańska, ślina.
We have been experiencing food habit chan−
ges and interest in different diets recently. One of
the most popular is a vegetarian diet which is
based on eliminating consumption of meat. On the
one hand, the influence of such diet on general
health condition is well known and many resear−
Influence of Vegetarian Diet on Calcium, Magnesium and Carbonate Level in Saliva
ches have been carried out on this subject. On the
other hand, few papers have been devoted to its
possible influence on oral health. One of the most
important factor in maintaining homeostasis in
oral cavity is saliva. Saliva consists mainly of wa−
ter but it contains a lot of organic and inorganic
compounds as well. Calcium ions take a signifi−
cant part in remineralization process. Calcium su−
persaturated saliva is one of the factors preventing
enamel demineralisation. Ionised calcium fraction
is of particular significance [1]. Magnesium is al−
so an important component of saliva. Its role is not
clear yet. It is known to play a part as a co−factor
of many enzymes taking part in metabolism of
proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic acids. It
is also essential for immunologic processes, in par−
ticular for humoral response. It has been shown
that its level in saliva is lower than in blood [2, 3].
Some researches found some unclear dependence
between high concentration of magnesium in sali−
va and susceptibility to caries [4–6]. Carbonates
constitute the most important buffer system which
controls pH of saliva. Their concentration is repor−
ted to be correlated with saliva flow rate [7].
The aim of this study is to determine if vege−
tarian diet can influence calcium, magnesium and
carbonates level in saliva.
Material and Methods
92 healthy subjects, 64 women and 28 men
were examined. They were from 17 to 51 years old.
They were divided into two groups: I – vegetarian
group and II – control group. Group I consisted of
46 vegetarians, 32 women and 14 men. The dura−
tion of vegetarian diet was between 1 and 18 years
(the mean duration was 9 years). Group II consi−
sted of age− and sex−matched omnivores. The mean
age of subjects in both groups was 29 (Tab. 1).
The individuals from group I were lactovege−
tarians. Their diet consisted of fruit, vegetables
and dairy products. 76% of them were lactoovo−
vegetarians (their diet included eggs).
Unstimulated mixed saliva (5 ml) was collec−
ted at least 2 hours after the meal. The samples
were centrifuged at 4000 rpm. The flow rate (V)
(ml/min) was calculated. Levels of calcium (Ca)
(mg/ml), magnesium (Mg) (mg/ml) and carbona−
tes (mEq/l·10–3) were determined and expressed
also as 1 minute output.
The data were analysed statistically using Stu−
dent’s t−test, U Mann−Whitney test (when distribu−
tion deviated from normal) at confidence level
p < 0.05. Pearson and Spearman’s correlation co−
efficients were also calculated.
173
Results
Average salivary flow rate in both groups was
within the accepted range (0.33–0.55 ml/min) but
lower in vegetarians. Average level of calcium was
similar in both groups.
Lower level and output of magnesium and car−
bonates were present in group I. The difference in
concentration and output of magnesium was stati−
stically significant and the difference in concentra−
tion and output of carbonates was close to statisti−
cal significance (Tab. 2, Tab. 3). In vegetarian wo−
men, Mg output was significantly lower than in
omnivorous women. Correlation analysis between
examined parameters of saliva and the duration of
vegetarian diet did not show any significant re−
sults. There was a significant negative correlation
between the level of magnesium and age as well as
a positive correlation between the concentration of
Ca and Mg in vegetarians (Tab. 4). No such corre−
lations were present in group II in which a negati−
ve correlation between calcium and carbonates
was observed. The negative correlation between
magnesium and carbonate was close to statistical
significance (Tab. 5).
Discussion
There are few papers devoted to the influence
of vegetarian diet on the level of components of
saliva and conclusions drawn are not always com−
patible. Linkosalo and Markkanen [8], Linkosalo
et al. [9] observed that average salivary flow rate
is lower in vegetarians and was not dependent on
age. In contrast among controls, a fall in flow rate
with age was shown. The data presented in this pa−
pier has not confirmed that. Another study showed
a higher salivary flow rate in vegetarian [10]. But
the statistically significant correlations were not
shown in the above mentioned papers. Different
results were shown by Johansson and Birkhed [11].
They carried a research on 29 subjects who turned
to vegetarian diet for one year. The authors obse−
rved a significant increase of salivary flow rate in
subjects and associated it with high consumption
of tough food (fruit and vegetables) which could
have a stimulating effect on saliva secretion. They
suggested also a possible influence of different
composition and nutritional value of consumed
food. After returning to a mixed diet the salivary
flow rate tended to decrease. Other researches con−
firm increased salivary flow rate in vegetarians [12].
Linkosalo et al. [9] did not observed significant
difference in the level of calcium between vegeta−
rians and the control group which is compatible
with my own research.
174
K. HERMAN
Table. 1. Number of examined subjects
Tabela 1. Liczba badanych osób
Sex
(Płeć)
Group I
(Grupa I)
Group II
(Grupa I)
number of subjects
(liczba osób)
n (%)
mean age – years
(średni wiek
– lata)
mean duration
of vegetarian diet
(średni czas
trwania diety
wegetariańskiej)
number of subjects
(liczba osób)
n (%)
mean age – years
(średni wiek
– lata)
Women
(Kobiety)
32 (69.6)
28
9
32 (69.6)
28
Men
(Mężczyźni)
14 (30.4)
34
10
14 (30.4)
34
Total
(Razem)
46 (100)
30
9
46 (100)
30
p < 0.05.
Table 2. Mean levels of salivary flow rate, Ca, Mg and carbonate concentrations
Tabela 2. Średnie wydzielanie śliny oraz stężenia wapnia, magnezu i węglanów w ślinie
Group I (n = 46)
Group II (n = 46)
women
(kobiety)
x ± SD
men
(mężczyźni)
x ± SD
total
(razem)
x ± SD
women
(kobiety)
x ± SD
men
(mężczyźni)
x ± SD
total
(razem)
x ± SD
V (ml/min)
0.32 ± 0.20
0.44 ± 0.31
0.35 ± 0.24
0.43 ± 0.36
0.46 ± 0.25
0.43 ± 0.33
Ca (mg/ml)
0.0622 ±
0.0336
0.0968 ±
0.0554
0.0727 ±
0.0444
0.0764 ±
0.0507
0.0558 ±
0.0262
0.0702 ±
0.0457
Mg (mg/ml)
0.0062 ±
0.0046
0.0066 ±
0.0034
0.0063 ±
0.0043
0.0084 ±
0.0044
0.0090 ±
0.0044
0.0086 ±
0.0044
22.91 ± 3.47
23.28 ± 3.15
23.18 ± 3.40
24.30 ± 2.98
24.22 ± 1.98
24.27 ± 2.71
Carbonate
(Węglany)
mEq/ml·10–3
p < 0.05.
Close to stastistical significance.
Zbliżone do istotności statystycznej.
Table 3. Mean output of Ca, Mg and carbonate
Tabela 3. Średnia szybkość wypływu Ca, Mg i węglanów
Group I (n = 46)
Group II (n = 46)
women
(kobiety)
x ± SD
men
(mężczyźni)
x ± SD
total
(razem)
x ± SD
women
(kobiety)
x ± SD
men
(mężczyźni)
x ± SD
total
(razem)
x ± SD
Ca
(mg/min)
0.0196 ±
0.0182
0.0413 ±
0.0365
0.0257 ±
0.0261
0.0357 ±
0.0502
0.0260 ±
0.0192
0.0330 ±
0.0438
Mg
(mg/min)
0.0017 ±
0.0016
0.0032 ±
0.0035
0.0022 ±
0.0024
0.0034 ±
0.0039
0.0046 ±
0.0041
0.0038 ±
0.0040
Carbonate
mEq/ml·10–3
7.29 ± 4.85
11.07 ± 8.69
8.34 ± 6.29
10.56 ± 9.42
11.30 ± 6.91
10.77 ± 8.72
p < 0.05.
Close to stastistical significance.
Zbliżone do istotności statystycznej.
175
Influence of Vegetarian Diet on Calcium, Magnesium and Carbonate Level in Saliva
Table 4. Values of correlation coefficient in group I
Table 5. Values of correlation coefficient in group II
Tabela 4. Wartości współczynników korelacji w grupie I
Tabela 5. Wartości współczynników korelacji w grupie II
V
Ca
Mg
Carbonate
(Węglany)
V
V
Ca
Mg
Carbonate
(Węglany)
V
Ca
0.010
Mg
–0.117
°
0.283
Carbonate
(Węglany)
0.004
–0.014
0.084
Age
(Wiek)
0.051
0.048
*
–0.302
–0.172
Duration
of diet
(Czas trwa−
nia diety)
0.229
–0.146
–0.163
–0.218
* p < 0,05.
° Close to stastistical significance.
° Zbliżone do istotności statystycznej.
I was not able to compare the results of my re−
search on the influence of vegetarian diet on the
Ca
–0.315
Mg
–0.122
0,099
Carbonate
(Węglany)
0.106
*
–0.318
°
–0.26
0.143
0.076
0.161
Age
(Wiek)
–0.164
* p < 0,05.
° Close to stastistical significance.
° Zbliżone do istotności statystycznej.
level of magnesium in saliva with other papers.
Some research showed no differences in plasma
Mg level between vegetarians and nonvegetarians
[13–15]. Since the level of magnesium in saliva
was found to be significantly lower in vegetarians,
it is appropriate to carry out further research to
explain it.
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176
K. HERMAN
Address for correspondence:
Katarzyna Herman
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Paedodontics
Silesian Piast University of Medicine
Krakowska 26
50−425 Wrocław
Tel.: +48 71 784 03 62
E−mail: [email protected]
Received: 1.02.2007
Revised: 5.06.2007
Accepted: 5.06.2007
Praca wpłynęła do Redakcji: 1.02.2007 r.
Po recenzji: 5.06.2007 r.
Zaakceptowano do druku: 5.06.2007 r.