Professional paper
A study of the frequency of decreased gastric juice secretion in subjects with xerostomia
Iva Vidas
; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Recently, clinicians have pointed to a relationship between xerostomia and gastrointestinal tract alterations. The aim of this study was to investigate the following: 1) Does a decreased gastric juice serection more frequently occur in subjects with xerostomia? 2) What is the role of sex in cases of hypofunction of salivary and gastric mucosa glands? 3) Is there a correlation between the severity of xerostomia and the activity of gastric mucosa glands? The study was carried out in 87 subjects with xerostomia, 55 women and 32 men aged 42— 75 years. In all patients, medical history data were taken, clinical oral examination and tests for xerostomia performed, and gastric acidity analyzed. Results of the study revealed a decreased gastric secretion to be present in 77.35% of subjects with xerostomia, which was statistically significant. The proportion of subjects with xerostomia was found to rise with age, more regularly in women than in men. In women, especially during the postmenopausal period, congruence between the severity of xerostomia and the gastric acidity decrease was quite pronounced, as differentiated from male subjects. The results obtained pointed to the need of gastric acidity testing in subjects with xerostomia complaining of gastrointestinal discomforts, dysgeusa to bitter taste and gusto for spicy foods.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
101360
URI
Publication date:
15.9.1989.
Visits: 1.201 *