Flow rates and inorganic composition of whole saliva in purging bulimic patients treated with a fluoxetine

Abstract

Objectives: The current study established whether vomiting bulimic and/or non-bulimic depressive patients, both treated with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine), have changes in their whole salivary secretion and inorganic components: Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+).

Methods: From 108 female subjects, namely bulimics (Group B) (fluoxetine: 40 mg/day) (n=33), non-bulimic depressives (Group D) (fluoxetine: 20 mg/day) (n=25) and a Group C of 50 healthy controls, unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected. The concentrations of Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) were determined by colorimetric photometry method (Effox 5053, Eppendorf, Germany).

Results: The bulimic group reported significant lower output in salivary flow and sodium concentration. In the group (D) only flow was lower than in healthy controls but not significant.

Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis that salivary flow is an unreliable indicator of bulimia, the lack of increase in sodium level in stimulated saliva in bulimic subjects could be a more reliable confirmation of the eating disorder.