Variations in Electrolyte and Salivary Amylase (Ptyalin) Levels in HIV-Positive Subjects

Not only has studies shown oral saliva as veritable in the maintenance of health state of the oral cavity, it has been asserted that salivary fluid composition levels may be important diagnostic tools for numerous ailments, including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Current study investigated the changes in Salivary Amylase (ptyalin) and selected electrolyte (Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3- and Ca2+) levels due to HIV infection. A hundred (100) human participants; comprising of fifty (50) HIV positive subjects (Group A) and fifty non-positive individuals (control group B) were ethically sought for the study. Saliva was then obtained from each sample with electrolyte and alpha amylase (ptyalin) levels assayed. Statistical analysis was performed on obtained variables (using the one-way analysis of variance - ANOVA) to obtain differences in mean, and comparisons made between groups. Following analysis, study found a decrease in salivary alpha amylase levels amidst HIV sufferers (Group A) upon comparison with control, implicative of a decrease in alpha amylase activity in HIV+ subjects. Salivary Sodium (Na+) and Chloride ion (Cl-) levels were also seen to statistically decrease upon comparison between groups. This decrease was also occasioned by an increase in potassium (K+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ion levels for HIV sufferers as compared to control (HIV negative) subjects. Similar but advanced studies are recommended to ascertain if the reason for these changes can be traceable to the continued use of anti-retroviral therapy, or by the mere presence of the HIV itself. Study has therefore shown that HIV alters saliva composition, possibly by decreasing alpha amylase, Na+ and Cl- levels.