Effect of snack eating on salivary α-amylase, a novel stress marker

• Published in: Stress and health Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 243 - 247
• Main Authors: Toda, Masahiro, Morimoto, Kanehisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.10.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; cortisol; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; human saliva; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; snack eating; Stress; stress marker; α-amylase; stress marker; Methodology; Biological marker; Male; Hydrocortisone; Glucocorticoid; Snack(food); α-Amylase; Human; Corticosteroid; Evaluation; Feeding behavior; Healthy subject; Enzyme; Steroid hormone; Antiinflammatory agent; Experimental study; Recommendation; Stress; Glycosylases; cortisol; snack eating; Glycosidases; Adrenal hormone; Hydrolases; human saliva; Saliva
• ISSN: 1532-3005; 1532-2998
• DOI: 10.1002/smi.1143

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of snack eating on salivary α‐amylase (sAA) as compared with salivary cortisol. From 15 healthy males, saliva samples were collected every 30min from 14:00 to 18:00. Immediately after the sampling at 15:00, seven subjects (snack‐eating group) ate a snack. The sAA and cortisol levels were determined with commercial kits. In the snack‐eating group, there was a significant increase in both the levels of sAA and cortisol after snack eating at 15:30. Even higher salivary cortisol levels were detected at 16:00. In the control group, no significant changes were detected. These findings suggest that both the levels of sAA and salivary cortisol are affected by snack eating and that, before saliva sampling for stress measurement, a fasting period of about 90min is appropriate. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.