COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF SALIVARY ACETAMINOPHEN CONCENTRATION IN LIBYANS,SENEGALESE AND SUDANESE

In the first of two experiments, acetaminophen (paracetamol) was measu red in the saliva of healthy male and female Sudanese, Libyan and Sene galese volunteers. Saliva was collected 1 h after ingesting 1 g of the drug. In the second experiment, acetaminophen (1 g) was given orally to male Sudanese and Libyan volunteers, and saliva was collected 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h thereafter. The drug concentration in both exper iments was measured by a modified spectrophotometric method with a det ection limit of 1 mug/ml. The results indicated that the salivary acet aminophen concentration in Sudanese was significantly (p < 0.05) highe r in males than females by about 28%. In Libyans, the drug concentrati on in males was 19% higher than in females (insignificant, p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in salivary acetam inophen concentrations between Sudanese, Libyans and Senegalese volunt eers, although male Senegalese had higher levels than the Sudanese and Libyans by 11.4 and 15.8%, respectively. Acetaminophen salivary conce ntrations in Sudanese were slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) highe r than those in Libyans 0. 5 and 1.0 h after ingestion of the drug. Th ereafter, there were no significant differences in the drug concentrat ions between the two groups (p > 0. 1). The results of both experiment s do not support the suggestion of interethnic differences in acetamin ophen clearance, but indicate that males may clear more of the drug th rough saliva than females.