The applications of high resolution H-1 NMR analysis as a diagnostic probe for human saliva are reviewed with special reference to diabetes mellitus. and a recently published report regarding the ability of this technique to detect advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in this biofluid [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 323 (2004) 377-381]. We also demonstrate that hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite (HOCI/OCI-)-induced modifications to the H-1 NMR profiles of human salivary supernatants arise from the chlorination and. where appropriate. oxidation of amino acids and malodorous amines, together with the oxidation of carbohydrates and alpha-keto acid anions. The attack of HOCl/OCl- on carbohydrates yields formate (singlet, delta - 8.46 ppm), the H-1 NMR signal of which was erroneously assigned to AGE species by the authors of [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 323 (2004) 377-381]. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.