Levels of TBARS.

<p>TBARS in whole saliva of young people at rest and at psychosocial stress situation (A); TBARS in saliva of men and women at rest (B) and at stress (C).</p

State anxiety.

<p>State anxiety of young people at rest and at psychosocial stress situation (A); state anxiety of men and women at rest (B) and at stress (C).</p

Activation of Antioxidant Defenses in Whole Saliva by Psychosocial Stress Is More Manifested in Young Women than in Young Men

<div><p>Psychosocial stress has been long known to have deleterious effects on health. Nevertheless, an exposure to moderate stressors enhances resilience and promotes health benefits. Male and female organisms differ in many aspects of health and disease. The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant activity and oxidative damage in saliva in a psychosocial stress paradigm in men and women. Here, we show that an acute stressor of moderate strength augments antioxidant activity and decreases oxidative damage in whole saliva of young people. An examination stress caused a significant increase of catalase activity, accompanied by a decrease of levels of oxidized proteins. Levels of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances did not increase at stress, indicating that lipid peroxidation was not activated. The stress-induced alterations were more manifested in young women compared to young men. Thus, antioxidant protective mechanisms are more activated by a moderate stressor in young women than in young men.</p></div

Activity of catalase.

<p>Activity of catalase in whole saliva of young people at rest and at psychosocial stress situation (A); activity of catalase in saliva of men and women at rest (B) and at stress (C).</p

Levels of free sialic acids.

<p>Free sialic acids in whole saliva of young people at rest and at psychosocial stress situation (A); free sialic acids in saliva of men and women at rest (B) and at stress (C).</p

Activity of alpha amylase.

<p>Activity of alpha amylase in whole saliva of young people at rest and at psychosocial stress situation (A); activity of alpha amylase in saliva of men and women at rest (B) and at stress (C).</p

Levels of oxidatively modified proteins.

<p>Oxidatively modified proteins in whole saliva of young people at rest and at psychosocial stress situation (A); oxidatively modified proteins in saliva of men and women at rest (B) and at stress (C).</p