Lysozyme activity and flow rate of mixed saliva in children, adolescents and adults.

Reports of lysozyme activity in mixed saliva differ greatly from lysozyme determination in pure form. In this study lysozyme activity of mixed saliva was determined by turbidimetric method in healthy children, adolescents, and adults, 111 subjects altogether. The salivary flow rate was estimated. The lysozyme activity of mixed saliva in 24 children was 129.4 +/- 42.4, in 21 adolescents 160.9 +/- 58.2, and in 66 adults 165.7 +/- 36.7 (mug/ml hen's egg white lysozyme). The flow rate of mixed saliva was similar in different groups. No statistically significant linear dependence between saliva lysozyme and flow rate was found. The lysozyme activities obtained correspond with the results of saliva lysozyme in pure form.