Effect of Childhood Malnutrition on Salivary Flow and pH

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of childhood malnutrition on salivary flow rate and pH. Four hundred children between 3-12 years were selected for this study. The children were divided into two main groups according to their nutrition status, Group (A): two hundred children representing the malnourished children, Group (B): two hundred children representing the control group. Within Group (A) Children were further divided into 2 subgroups, subgroup (1): one hundred stunted children and subgroup (2): one hundred underweight children. Every child was subjected to unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow and pH measurements and caries status evaluation using dmf index for primary and DMF index for permanent teeth. The results showed undernutrition (underweight) and stunting reduced the secretion rate of stimulated saliva and no effect on unstimulated salivary flow rate or saliva pH. Moreover, undernutrition (underweight) increased the caries index of primary teeth, while stunting increased the caries index of permanent teeth. It was concluded that malnutrition causes enamel hypoplasia, salivary gland hypofunction and saliva compositional changes and these might be the mechanisms through which malnutrition associated with caries.

Differences in the Salivary Parameters and Caries Status Between the Underweight, Normal, and Obese Children in Medan Primary Schools

“…Based on our findings, both underweight and obese children were experiencing hypo salivation. Doaa et al asserted that hypo function of the salivary gland is a common finding in underweight children and often results in diminished saliva flow rate [2]. Plesis hypothesized that there may be a correlation between malnutrition and parotid swelling.…”

“…Malnutrition refers to the condition in which an individual has an improper daily nutritional intake. This condition may be attributable to either underconsumption or in some cases, over-consumption of food [2]. Underweight and obesity are severe forms of malnutrition; hence these two groups require proper nutritional consultation [3].…”

“…An underweight child may have a dysfunctional salivary gland prompted by hypertrophy of the gland which subsequently reduces the salivary flow rate [2,8]. The diminished salivary flow rate could also be a common finding in obese children.…”

Does Growth Stunting Correlate with Oral Health in Children?: A Systematic Review

“…22 A similar statement is also stated by Hasan et al, with his study shows a moderate value of salivary flow rate in children with growth stunting was much lower than that of well-nourished children. 31 Meanwhile, Hashem et al (2016) have different results from Singh et al In their study, growth stunting reduces the stimulated salivary flow rate and has no effect on the unstimulated salivary flow rate. 23 In chronic malnutrition, which reflects growth stunting, the flow rate of saliva tends to decrease, leading to disruption of the protective function of Saliva in the oral cavity.…”

“…The population of the studies varied from 60 to 914 children depending on the article. Moreover, the types of studies were different: eight studies used a cross-sectional study design, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] and one cohort study. 29 There were also different types of the parameter used to analyze oral health.…”