Journal of Dental Research, Vol 71, 1891-1894, Copyright © 1992 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Effect of age on immunoglobulin content and volume of human labial gland saliva
D. J. Smith, K. Joshipura, R. Kent and M. A. Taubman
Department of Immunology, Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Stimulated lower labial (LLGF) and parotid salivary volumes and IgG, IgA,
and IgM concentrations were measured in 264 subjects whose ages ranged from
17 to 76 years. A significant (p < 0.001) age-related decline in LLGF
output was observed for subjects over this age range. Sixty-three percent
of the subjects in the 18-20-year-old group (n = 46) secreted at least 10
microL of labial saliva in a 7-10-minute period, while approximately 70% of
the subjects in the two oldest groups (61-70 and 71-76 years old) secreted
less than 1 microL of LLGF during this time period (n = 64). No significant
gender-based differences occurred in the volumes of labial saliva secreted.
Stimulated parotid salivary flow showed no age-related trend in these
subjects. Lower labial gland salivary IgA concentrations in an older
population (mean age +/- SD = 55.6 yr +/- 1.3) were significantly lower (p
< 0.025) than IgA concentrations in a younger population (20.7 yr +/-
0.8), when IgA was expressed as microgram/mL LLGF collected. Immunoglobulin
A concentrations in parotid saliva and IgG and IgM concentrations in labial
and parotid saliva were not significantly different when the two age
populations were compared. These data suggest that the physiological and
immunological potential of labial gland saliva may decrease with age.
