The aim of this work was to study the effects of interindividual variability of human elderly saliva on aroma release and metabolization by ex vivo approaches. Thirty individuals suffering or not from hyposalivation were selected from a panel formed by 110 elderly people (aged >65 years old) that were matched by age and sex. Then, their stimulated saliva samples were independently incubated in presence of three aroma compounds (ethyl hexanoate, octanal, 2-nonanone) to perform headspace-gas chromatography and liquid/liquid extraction-gas chromatography mass spectrometry analyses. These assays revealed that the extent of saliva effect on the release and metabolization of aroma compounds was highly dependent on the chemical family of the compounds (octanal>ethyl hexanoate>2-nonanone). Moreover, salivas from the hyposalivator (HPS) group exerted a significant lower release and/or higher metabolization than those of the control group for the three assayed compounds. Regarding the biochemical characterization of the saliva samples, no significant differences were found in the total protein content between the two groups. This does not preclude the involvement of specific proteins on the observed results that need to be clarified in further experiments. Saliva from the HPS group presented a significantly higher total antioxidant capacity than that of the control group, which suggests that this parameter could be related to the metabolization of aroma compounds by saliva. Such effects might alter aroma perception in individuals suffering from hyposalivation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The world population is getting older so fast that most countries are not prepared to handle this demographic challenge, characterized by an increasing prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders) associated to inadequate eating patterns. Thus, supporting a balanced diet is one of the most cost-effective strategies to maintain a good quality of life. A suitable diet needs to take into account both, specific sensory and nutritional individual needs. However, aging is often accompanied by deterioration in oral health (e.g., low salivary secretions), which could alter the capacities to taste and smell. Results from this work contribute to a better understanding of the role of human saliva in aroma release and metabolization, a first step to comprehend retronasal aroma release and perception. This knowledge will help to propose innovative solutions for the reformulation of food products better adapted to the elderly\'s needs, thus allowing delayed onset of dependency.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the microbiota of stimulated whole saliva samples from patients with severe hyposalivation to samples from individuals with normal whole saliva flow rates. It was hypothesized that the two groups differ with regard to salivary bacterial profiles.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 36 participants (24 females and 12 males, mean age 58.5 years) with severe hyposalivation and 36 gender-, age-, and geographically matched participants with normal salivary secretion from the Danish Health Examination Survey (DANHES). The microbiota of stimulated whole saliva samples was characterized by HOMINGS.
RESULTS: The two groups had comparable caries experience measured by decayed, missed, filled surfaces/teeth and decayed, missed, filled root surfaces as well as active caries lesions. In addition, no single probe target was present with a significant difference in frequency or proportional presence between groups. Furthermore, data reduction by principal component analysis and correspondence analysis showed comparable bacterial community profiles between groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the salivary bacterial profiles of patients with severe hyposalivation do not differ from those of individuals with normal salivary secretion, when there are virtually no untreated active caries lesions present in the oral cavity.

This study aimed to compare the biochemical composition of saliva from patients with eating disorders (EDs) with saliva from control subjects with no ED. All patients who initiated outpatient treatment in an ED clinic during a 12-month period were invited to participate. Of the 65 patients who started treatment during the period, 54 (50 female patients/four male patients; mean age: 21.5 yr) agreed to participate. The controls were 54 sex- and age-matched patients from a dental health clinic. All participants completed a questionnaire and underwent dental clinical examinations, including laboratory analyses of saliva. The proportion of subjects with unstimulated salivary hyposalivation was lower in the ED group and not correlated with intake of xerogenic drugs. Significant differences in the biochemical composition of saliva were found almost exclusively in the unstimulated state, with albumin, inorganic phosphate, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), chloride, magnesium, and total protein all being significantly higher in the ED group. Conditional logistic regression showed that higher ASAT and total protein concentrations were relatively good predictors of ED, with sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 67%, respectively. In conclusion, elevated salivary concentrations of ASAT and total protein may serve as indicators of ED as well as of disease severity. Future studies are needed to corroborate these initial findings.

Salivary gland aplasia is a rare condition with only a small number of cases reported worldwide. It is more commonly seen in males and can occur either in isolation or association with other defects or syndromes. It may or may not occur with a hereditary background. Scant literature exists detailing the status of sublingual salivary glands in patients with any form of major salivary gland aplasia. This case report describes the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging presentation of a 16-year-old girl with major salivary gland aplasia detailing the status of all six major salivary glands.