Sialochemical Analysis: Windfall to the Oral Physician (A Hospital-based Clinical Cross-Sectional Study in Depressive Disorders).

Background: Depressive disorders, worldwide, may rank second by the year 2020. In India; about 10 million people suffer from depressive disorders, the prevalence rate being recorded as 31.2 for every 1000 individuals. A significant impairment of all personal hygiene may occur due a depressive episode which in turn may result in altered biochemical composition of some important salivary parameters. The present study was conducted in Bhopal, the heart of Madhya Pradesh, India. It was done to assess the relationship and bring about a comparison of certain selective sialochemical alterations between normal and subjects with depressive disorders.

Materials And Methods: The research participants signed a free and informed consent form authorizing their voluntary participation in the research. A total number of 150 subjects were selected and were distributed equally between 3 groups - Group I (normal), Group II (subjects with depressive disorders who were only on psychiatric counseling) and Group III (subjects with depressive disorders who were on medication for at least 1 month). The effect of three antidepressant drugs, which were commonly prescribed by the psychiatrists were considered for the study. Stimulated whole saliva was analyzed biochemically for α-amylase, calcium, sodium, potassium, total proteins, and urea.

Results: Stimulated salivary calcium and total protein levels were found to be statistically significant among all three groups (P < 0.0001). Salivary amylase levels between Groups II and III and between Groups I and III (P < 0.0001) was statistically significant while the salivary urea levels between Groups I and II and between Groups I and III were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.0001). However, there was no statistical difference in their sodium and potassium levels.

Conclusions: It was observed that drugs do affect the salivary composition. It was observed that cyclic antidepressants produced significant alteration in the sialochemical constituents of saliva as compared to tricyclic antidepressants and tetracyclic antidepressants. How to cite the article: Milton BA, Bhambal A, Nair P. Sialochemical analysis: Windfall to the oral physician (A hospital-based clinical cross-sectional study in depressive disorders). J Int Oral Health 2014;6(3):82-9.