Saliva buffering power in contact with some vitamin syrups available in Iranian pharmaceutical market

Introduction: Since pharmaceutical syrups are widely taken by children in Iran, drop of pH in oral cavity and dental decay resulted from the syrups are of high importance. This research aims to study buffering properties of saliva when in contact with some of vitamin syrups available in pharmaceutical market of Iran. Methods: In the present study, 1 milliliter (ml) of 6 samples of vitamin syrups including Vitamin C, Vitamin B-Complex, Vitamin AD, Vitamin syrup Sandros (E, D3, C, B12, B6, A, Folic Acid, Biotin), Eurho syrup (B-Complex, Vitamin C) and Vitane Droplets (Multivitamin) and also a sample of distilled water as control were examined. Initially, pH was measured in each sample, and then 1 ml of stimulated saliva collected from children (6- 12 years old) and 2 ml of deionized water was added to them and mixed. Finally, pH was measured in 5 and 20 minutes after mixing by the use of TECHNO Digital pH Meter. Results: Five minutes after adding saliva to the syrup samples, pH of all the samples increased. The minimum increment was observed in Vitamin C and the maximum was observed in both Eurho and Vitane. The increment was significant just in Eurho and Vitane (P 0.05). PH of all the samples after 20 minutes was higher than the initial pH. However, it was somehow less than the pH after 5 minutes. The difference was statistically insignificant (P 0.05). Conclusion: Increase of pH in Eurho and Vitane after 5 minutes contacting with saliva was significant compared with the initial pH. It shows the positive buffering effect of saliva on the pH of these two syrups and; consequently, reducing the probability of decay after consuming them.