Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

4 questions · 4 findings · 1 reviews

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 1 · 25%Very low 0 · 0%Low 2 · 50%Moderate 1 · 25%High 0 · 0%

Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy controls

Salivary pH · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general community-dwelling population

Anorexia nervosa is associated with significantly lower salivary pH than healthy controls (MD -0.39, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.24; low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic treatment:… 2025 All outcomes
Clinical dental/oral examination; case-control studies and controlled clinical trials in Europe (mainly Poland, Italy, France, Germany), Australia and the USA
MD -0.39 [-0.54, -0.24]
3 studies · 180 participants
Low

Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy controls

Salivary alpha-amylase · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general community-dwelling population

There is no significant difference in salivary alpha-amylase between anorexia nervosa patients and healthy controls (MD 6.32 U/l, 95% CI -6.14 to 18.79; low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic treatment:… 2025 All outcomes
Clinical dental/oral examination; case-control studies and controlled clinical trials in Europe (mainly Poland, Italy, France, Germany), Australia and the USA
MD 6.32 [-6.14, 18.79]
4 studies · 226 participants
Low

Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy controls

Salivary flow rate (stimulated) · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general community-dwelling population

Stimulated salivary flow rate was significantly lower in anorexia nervosa patients than controls, but only unstimulated flow was meta-analyzed; this outcome is ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic treatment:… 2025 All outcomes
Clinical dental/oral examination; case-control studies and controlled clinical trials in Europe (mainly Poland, Italy, France, Germany), Australia and the USA
Stimulated salivary flow rate significantly lower in anorexic patients (Paszynska 2015 Nov 1.20 vs 1.57 ml/min, p=0.005; Paszynska 2018 0.99 vs 1.45 ml/min, p<0.00001); reported narratively, not meta-analyzed
2 studies · 126 participants
GRADE not reported

Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy controls

Salivary flow rate (unstimulated) · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general community-dwelling population

Anorexia nervosa probably reduces unstimulated salivary flow rate versus healthy controls (MD -0.27 ml/min, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.24; moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic treatment:… 2025 All outcomes
Clinical dental/oral examination; case-control studies and controlled clinical trials in Europe (mainly Poland, Italy, France, Germany), Australia and the USA
MD -0.27 [-0.31, -0.24]
4 studies · 316 participants
Moderate