Table 6 Correlations between dry mouth/sticky saliva and total protein concentration/salivary secretion rate and between total protein concentration and salivary secretion rate at 6 months, 1 and 2 years post RT

Dry mouth—salivary secretion rate

r = 0.29 (n.s)

r = 0.52 (p < 0.05)

r = 0.35 (n.s)

Dry mouth—total protein concentration

r = 0.03 (n.s)

r = 0.19 (n.s)

r = 0.04 (n.s)

Dry mouth—sticky saliva

r = 0.46 (p < 0.05)

r = 0.65 (p < 0.01)

r = 0.72 (p < 0.001)

Sticky saliva—salivary secretion rate

r = 0.12 (n.s)

r = 0.58 (p < 0.01)

r = 0.33 (n.s)

Sticky saliva—total protein concentration

r = 0.01 (n.s)

r = 0.05 (n.s)

r = 0.09 (n.s)

Total protein concentration—salivary secretion rate

r = 0.32 (n.s)

r = 0.57 (p < 0.01)

r = 0.44 (p < 0.05)