The flow-rate-dependent excretion of ionized calcium in pilocarpine-stimulated human submandibular saliva.

In 10 healthy male subjects the total calcium concentration in submandibular saliva varied between 2.05 +/- 0.12 mmol/l and 2.48 +/- 0.1 mmol/min, and did not show a dependency on the flow rate. The salivary-ionized calcium increased significantly at flow rates between 0.1 and 1.3 ml/min (from 0.74 +/- 0.05 to 1.41 +/- 0.04 mmol/l) and even reached plasma levels.