Determinants of the diurnal course of salivary alpha-amylase

Salivary VIP concentrations are elevated in humans after acute stress

“…Salivary amylase levels were lower in the morning than in the afternoon which is consistent with the literature (Nater et al, 2007;Nater et al, 2009). Salivary VIP levels demonstrated a circadian rhythm with a significant peak at 0800h.…”

“…Also, according to the literature, salivary amylase is lowest in the morning and highest in the afternoon and evening (Nater et al, 2007;Nater et al, 2009). Therefore, comparing our circadian results with the literature we find good agreement for salivary cortisol.…”

“…DHEA levels also peak in the morning followed by a less pronounced decrease than cortisol (Hucklebridge et al;, Netherton et al, 2004 and finally research suggests amylase is lowest in the morning and higher in the afternoon and evening (Nater et al, 2007;Nater et al, 2009). Therefore, comparing our baseline results with the literature, we find good agreement for salivary cortisol and salivary DHEA from the different training exercises with the literature.…”

“…Therefore, comparing our baseline results with the literature, we find good agreement for salivary cortisol and salivary DHEA from the different training exercises with the literature. We did not observe the diurnal variation for salivary amylase that Nater et al observed with levels being higher in the afternoon than in the morning, but our range of baseline levels are in the range of literature values (Nater et al, 2005;Nater et al, 2007;Rohleder et al, 2004;van Stegeren et al, 2006). It is possible that the higher salivary amylase for exercise 3 reflects anticipatory stress as well as post stress.…”

“…The results show the typical circadian pattern for cortisol, (high in the morning with a gradual decline throughout the day). In contrast, salivary amylase shows a decrease after awakening then a gradual increase with a plateau in the afternoon and early evening (Nater et al, 2007). Consistent with the above data, Strahler et al also found alpha-amylase to peak in the early afternoon around 3:00pm (Strahler et al, 2010).…”