Qualitative analysis of serum estrogen, parathyroid and calcium levels in postmenopausal women with oral dryness- A case-control study

Abstract

Background: The emergence of oral dryness unrelated to salivary flow volume has always raised many questions over the hypothesis of oral dryness in postmenopausal women. The current research article tries to focus on qualitative changes in saliva in the postmenopausal women suffering from oral dryness. Aim and Objectives: To correlate the severity of oral dryness with qualitative changes in serum estrogen, serum parathyroid (PTH), serum calcium levels in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methodology: This case-control study was carried out on 60 postmenopausal women with 30 forming the case groups as having oral dryness and 30 forming control group without oral dryness. The severity of oral dryness was assessed through the Xerostomia Inventory Score (XI Score). Serum estrogen and serum parathyroid levels were assessed by the ELISA method and serum calcium levels were assessed by Arsenazo III reaction using a semi-autoanalyzer in all participants. Statistical analysis was done by student's t- test and Pearson correlation. Results: Significant differences were observed in the mean values of serum estrogen levels, serum parathyroid levels, and XI score between the case and control groups. (P < 0.001). Serum calcium levels did not show significant variation (P= 0.385) between the groups. The correlation proved that there was an inverse correlation between estrogen levels and XI scores (r-value -0.777). Conclusion: The severity of oral dryness was associated with decreased levels of estrogen and increased levels of parathyroid hormones in postmenopausal women. Fall in estrogen levels is associated with an increase in oral dryness.

Keywords

• estrogen
• oral dryness
• postmenopausal
• xi score