Abstract
Distilled water containing of capsaicin 10-6 mol/ml was sprayed into oral cavity obtain adults, and the concentration of substance P (SP) in the saliva was measured before and after the spray. Similary, the concentration of SP in the saliva before and after chewing gum which contained about 6×10-8 mol per piece of capsaicin was also measured for ten adults. A significant rise in SP in the saliva after the capsaicin administration in both procedures was seen.
SP significantly increased in the saliva of dysphagic patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and spinocerebellar degeneration after capsaicin administration. Therefore, it can be said that chewing gum is an adequate treatment for mastication and swallowing, and that the increase in SP in the saliva leads to greater sensitive trigger for the swallowing reflex.
