Effect of Exercise on Salivary pH, Amylase, Mucin, and Total Protein Concentration of Unstimulated Whole Saliva in Pakistani Cohort

Ali, Saqib; Alam, Beenish Fatima; Khan, Malik Arshman; Khan, Umaima; Lateef, Mehreen; Mahmood, Shafaq; Farooq, Imran

doi:10.1590/pboci.2026.033

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Pesqui. Bras. Odontopediatria Clín. Integr. 26 • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1590/pboci.2026.033 linkcopy

Effect of Exercise on Salivary pH, Amylase, Mucin, and Total Protein Concentration of Unstimulated Whole Saliva in Pakistani Cohort

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the effects of physical exercise on salivary pH, amylase, mucin, and total protein concentration.

Material and Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 34 participants (21 males, 13 females) at four time points: rest (control), moderate-intensity exercise, high-intensity exercise, and recovery (post-30 min rest). Salivary pH was measured using a pH meter, while amylase, mucin, and total protein concentrations were analyzed using ELISA.

Results: Salivary pH remained stable throughout. Amylase levels significantly increased (p<0.05) post-moderate (males: 85.66 ± 2.79 units/mL; females: 85.46 ± 2.36 units/mL) and high-intensity exercise (males: 104.42 ± 1.91 units/mL; females: 103.69 ± 2.05 units/mL), declining during recovery. Mucin levels also rose significantly (p<0.05) post-moderate (males: 3.99 ± 0.79 mg/mL; females: 3.95 ± 0.73 mg/mL) and high-intensity exercise (males: 4.57 ± 0.68 mg/mL; females: 4.52 ± 1.07 mg/mL), then decreased in recovery. Total protein concentration followed a similar trend, increasing post-moderate (males: 2.80 ± 0.62 mg/mL; females: 3.95 ± 0.73 mg/mL) and high-intensity exercise (males: 3.94 ± 1.04 mg/mL; females: 3.63 ± 0.59 mg/mL), then declining during recovery.

Conclusion: Moderate and high-intensity exercise significantly increased salivary amylase, mucin, and total protein levels, while salivary pH remained unaffected.

Keywords:
Saliva; Motor Activity; Enzymes.

Variables	N (%)
Gender
Male	21 (61.7)
Female	13 (38.2)
Age
25-30 years	14 (41.1)
31-35 years	9 (26.4)
36-40 years	11 (32.3)
Weight (Kg)	69.75 ± 7.1
Height (cm)	169.30 ± 3.41
BMI (kg/m²)	24.37 ± 2.75

Parameter	Rest	Moderate Intensity Exercise	High-Intensity Exercise	Recovery
pH	7.02 ± 0.16	7.04 ± 0.20	7.06 ± 0.18	7.07 ± 0.18

	Workout Intensity
Gender	Rest	Moderate Intensity	High-Intensity	Recovery
	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD
Male
Amylase (units/mL)	65.56 ± 2.85^a	85.66 ± 2.79^{bA^}	104.42 ±1.91^cA$	75.14 ± 2.24^{a^$}
Mucin (mg/mL)	2.77 ± 0.73^a	3.99 ± 0.79^{bA^}	4.57 ± 0.68^cA$	1.63 ± 0.91^{a^$}
Total Proteins (mg/mL)	1.46 ± 0.28^a	2.80 ± 0.62^{bA^}	3.94 ± 1.04^cA$	1.57 ± 0.76^{a^$}
Female
Amylase (units/mL)	64.41 ± 1.75^a	85.46 ± 2.36^{bA^}	103.69 ± 2.05^cA$	74.23 ± 1.64^{a^$}
Mucin (mg/mL)	2.72 ± 0.59^a	3.95 ± 0.73^{bA^}	4.52 ± 1.07^cA$	1.66 ± 0.55^{a^$}
Total Proteins (mg/mL)	1.47 ± 0.20^a	2.73 ± 0.90^{bA^}	3.63 ± 0.59^cA$	1.40 ± 0.36^{a^$}

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[1] ANOVA, Post-hoc Tukey test, significance level: p<0.05; Different small superscript alphabets in the same row denote significance; Different capital superscript alphabets in the same row denote significance between moderate and high-intensity exercise;

[TFN1] ^{^}
Denotes significance between moderate-intensity exercise and recovery; and

[TFN2] ^$
Denotes significance between high-intensity exercise and recovery.