Salivary Calcium Level and Its Correlation with Salivary pH, Salivary Volume, and Calcium Intake in Hypertensive Female Patients with Different Blood Sugar Levels

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the salivary calcium level and its correlation with salivary pH, salivary volume, and calcium intake in hypertensive female patients with different blood sugar levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 49 female subjects with hypertension. Subjects were divided into three groups based on the HbA1c test: normal, prediabetes, and diabetes. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected using the spitting method. Salivary calcium levels were evaluated using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Salivary pH was obtained using a universal indicator pH paper test. Calcium intake was assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare salivary parameters and total calcium intake within study groups. Spearman rank correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between salivary calcium levels and all variables in the study. RESULTS: No significant difference in salivary calcium, volume, pH, and total calcium intake was observed within the study groups. However, a significant correlation was found between salivary calcium levels and salivary pH in hypertensive females with normal blood glucose levels. Moreover, salivary calcium levels have a significant correlation with systolic blood pressure in prediabetes and diabetes groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a decrease in all salivary parameters (calcium, pH, and volume) as well as a low calcium intake in hypertensive females, despite no significant difference found in groups with different blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels appeared to be a confounder in the relationship between salivary calcium with salivary pH and systolic blood pressure.