THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SALIVARY HISTATIN LEVELS AND ORAL YEAST CARRIAGE

Candida species are common commensal inhabitants of the oral cavity. H uman saliva contains antifungal proteins called histatins. We tested t he hypothesis that oral yeast status is related to salivary histatin l evels. Thirty subjects were divided into two groups based on the prese nce (n=15) or absence (n=15) of yeast on oral mucosa surfaces. Unstimu lated and stimulated submandibular and sublingual and parotid saliva w as collected from each subject. Salivary flow rates were measured and histatin concentrations were determined in the stimulated saliva sampl es. The yeast colony positive group showed lower median unstimulated p arotid saliva flow rates as well as lower median concentrations of tot al histatins in submandibular and sublingual saliva. There was a negat ive correlation between yeast colony-forming units and unstimulated pa rotid saliva flow rates and between yeast colony-forming units and sub mandibular and sublingual saliva histatin concentration and secretion. The results suggest that oral yeast status may be influenced by unsti mulated parotid saliva flow rates and by submandibular and sublingual histatin concentration and secretion.