Analysis of Metals in Saliva by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. II. Magnesium

Abstract

By atomic absorption spectroscopy an extremely rapid and highly sensitive method for Mg estimation was developed. The unashed saliva was acidified, centrifuged and diluted tenfold in a 4400 ppm SrCl2 6H2O solution. The mean value of Mg in unstimulated and paraffin-stimulated saliva of 183 persons was 0.502 and 0.356 mg% respectively. Low Mg values are associated with high flow rates. There was a mild positive correlation between Ca and Mg in unstimulated saliva but an absence of any statistical inverse correlation between Na and Mg in both unstimulated and stimulated saliva. There was no statistical differences between Mg concentrations of subjects aged 8-14 and those aged 15-56 years.