Salivary Health in Menopausal Women

Menopause ushers in a marked decline in circulating oestrogens that has far-reaching effects beyond reproductive tissues, notably altering salivary gland function and oral health. Saliva plays a critical role in lubrication, buffering, antimicrobial defence and remineralisation of dental enamel. In menopausal women, reductions in salivary flow and changes in its biochemical composition are frequently reported, leading to xerostomia, mucosal atrophy, burning mouth sensations and an elevated risk of caries and periodontal disease. Estrogen receptors within salivary glands and oral mucosa mediate trophic effects on epithelial integrity and glandular secretion. As oestrogen levels fall, the oral mucosa may become thinner and more vulnerable to trauma and infection, while glandular acini may exhibit reduced secretory output. Concurrent shifts in salivary electrolytes, host-defence proteins and microbial metabolites further perturb the oral ecosystem. Emerging multiomics approaches highlight saliva as a non-invasive window on systemic hormonal status and mucosal health, suggesting potential biomarkers for early detection of high-risk patients and for monitoring interventions such as hormone replacement therapy. Understanding these changes is crucial for tailored preventive and restorative strategies in a growing global population of post-reproductive-age women.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent multiomics investigations have deepened comprehension of how menopause influences the salivary environment. A comprehensive study profiled the salivary microbiome, lipidome and metabolome in healthy women across reproductive and post-reproductive phases. While overall microbial composition remained largely stable, targeted lipidomics and untargeted metabolomics revealed distinct shifts in salivary metabolites among post-menopausal participants. In particular, correlations emerged between the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and activity of the glycosidase α-mannosidase, indicating hormone-related modulation of carbohydrate-processing enzymes. These findings suggest that salivary metabolites may serve as predictive biomarkers for hormonal status and mucosal health, opening avenues for personalised strategies to restore glandular function and epithelial resilience in menopausal women.

Salivary Health in Menopausal Women publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in salivary health in menopausal women across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Xerostomia: The subjective sensation of oral dryness, often associated with reduced salivary flow.

Salivary flow rate: The volume of saliva secreted per unit time, a key indicator of glandular function.

Metabolomics: The systematic study of small-molecule metabolites in biological fluids, used here to profile changes in saliva composition.

Lipidomics: A branch of metabolomics focused on comprehensive analysis of lipid species within biological samples.

Glycosidase: An enzyme that hydrolyses glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates, influencing salivary metabolite profiles.

References

1. Analysis of the oral microbiome during hormonal cycle and its alterations in menopausal women: the “AMICA” project. Scientific Reports (2022).
2. Changes in the Oral Cavity in Menopausal Women—A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).
3. Selected Physicochemical Properties of Saliva in Menopausal Women—A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020).
4. Role of hormone replacement therapy in relieving oral dryness symptoms in postmenopausal women: a case control study. BMC Oral Health (2021).