Estimation of zinc concentration of parotid saliva by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry in normal subjects and in patients with idiopathic hypogeusia.

The concentraiton of zinc in parotid saliva was estimated by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. As small a sample as 5 to 10 mul of whole paratid saliva can be analyzed quickly and reliably, without special sample handling and with littleinterference from other ions normally found in saliva. Parotid salivary zinc concentration in 34 subjects with normal taste acuity was 51 plus or minus 14 ppb(parts per billion)(mean plus or minus 1 S.D.); parotid salivary zinc concentration in 47 subjectswith idiopathic hypogeusia was 10 plus or minus 6 ppb (mean plus or minus 1 S.D.) which is significantly lower than that in normal subjects (p lessthan 0.001). This technique is a usual method by which to evaluate parotid salivary zinc, particulary inrelationship to problems of taste, appetite, and nutrition.