Baseline states of mind differentially affected diurnal salivary stress biomarkers: A preliminary study
Issued Date
2022-09-01
Resource Type
ISSN
24058440
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85137663723
Journal Title
Heliyon
Volume
8
Issue
9
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Heliyon Vol.8 No.9 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Jantaratnotai N., Anh Do T.K., Tammayan M., Pachimsawat P. Baseline states of mind differentially affected diurnal salivary stress biomarkers: A preliminary study. Heliyon Vol.8 No.9 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10506 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/86478
Title
Baseline states of mind differentially affected diurnal salivary stress biomarkers: A preliminary study
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The study aimed to determine how different baseline states of mind in each day (relaxed, ordinary, or stressful) affected the diurnal patterns of three commonly investigated salivary stress biomarkers: cortisol (sCort), alpha-amylase (sAA), and chromogranin A (sCgA). A total of 32 healthy volunteers collected saliva on three different mood days at six time points each day (awakening, 30 min after, 10:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 19:00 h). Pulse rates and subjective feeling of stress using a visual analog scale (VAS) were also recorded. The levels of sCort and sAA were highest on a stressful day at certain time points. The levels of sAA were lowest on a relaxing day in the afternoon. Surprisingly, sCgA levels showed an opposite pattern with the highest level seen on a relaxing day. Of note was that the majority of the participants chose a day during a meditation retreat as their relaxing day and participants practicing mindfulness manifested lower levels of sCort (p = 0.003) and sAA (p = 0.043) at 19:00 h compared with those choosing a general leisure day as their relaxing day. Different states of mind were associated with different courses of salivary stress biomarkers. sCort and sAA are the most reliable markers showing the expected trend with higher levels on a stressful day and lower levels on a relaxing day. While the current result cast doubt on the use of sCgA as a stress marker since it was the only marker that showed the opposite trend compared with those of the other two markers as well as pulse rates and VAS. Furthermore, this is the first study to demonstrate that mindfulness practice might have different effects on these biomarkers from just a general relaxed state of mind.