Investigating the impact of routine physical activity on the crystallogenic properties of saliva in elderly individuals

Abstract

The exploration of the metabolic status in the elderly using non-invasive monitoring techniques for biological fluids remains a pertinent area of study. The correlation between crystallogenic parameters in biological fluids and the regular physical activity of individuals has not been comprehensively examined in the past. The objective of this research is to conduct a comparative evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of saliva in elderly individuals based on their regular physical training. Materials and methods. The study involved 94 participants with a mean age - of 64.7 ± 2.9 years. The cohort comprised 49 individuals actively participating in routine physical activity (main group), while the remaining 45 elderly participants did not engage in regular physical training (control group). All patients were examined at 2 control points: upon inclusion in the research project and 6 months after its completion. The crystallogenic properties of saliva were tested at these two control points. A proprietary system of semi-quantitative parameters for the description of crystalloscopic facia was used. Results. It was found that after 6 months of observation in both groups, the value of the crystallization index, which characterizes the number of crystalline elements in a dried saliva microslide, and the structural index, which indicates the complexity of their structure, decreases. In addition, a decrease in the area index of the edge protein part of the sample and an increase in the destruction degree of crystals were observed. These changes indicate a disturbance in the metabolic status of elderly people. All these negative changes were most pronounced only in elderly people who did not engage in sports, p <0.05. Conclusions. The results of the study indicate that metabolic disorders, which indicate the aging of the body, are significantly more pronounced in the group of patients who ignore regular physical activity. The study results can be used to promote regular physical activity.