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. 2024 Nov 30;60(12):1972.
doi: 10.3390/medicina60121972.

Salivary Cortisol and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) as Biomarkers of Stress in Dental Medicine Students-A Pilot Study

Otilia Bolos  1 , Vanessa Bolchis  2   3 , Ramona Dumitrescu  2   3 , Vlad Tiberiu Alexa  2   3 , Berivan Laura Rebeca Buzatu  2   3 , Anca Marcu  4 , Catalin Marian  4 , Paula Diana Ciordas  4 , Daniela Jumanca  2   3 , Atena Galuscan  2   3 , Octavia Balean  2   3
Affiliations

Salivary Cortisol and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) as Biomarkers of Stress in Dental Medicine Students-A Pilot Study

Otilia Bolos et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Stress is a significant issue among dental students, with both psychological and physiological impacts affecting their academic performance. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between academic stress and salivary biochemical markers, specifically cortisol and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), in third- and fifth-year dental students during the 2022/2023 academic year. Materials and Methods: This study included 44 participants from the Faculty of Dental Medicine at Victor Babes University, Romania. Saliva samples were collected during a low-stress period and prior to exams (high-stress period). Results: Cortisol and TAC levels were measured using ELISA and TAC assays, respectively, decreasing from an average of 3.69 (SD ± 1.49) before stress to 2.86 (SD ± 2.28) during high-stress periods (p < 0.05), while salivary cortisol levels showed a non-significant change from 23.69 (SD ± 35.6) ng/mL to 20.44 (SD ± 23.07) ng/mL; additionally, female participants exhibited a mean STAI score of 91.65 (SD ± 5.13) compared to 91.09 (SD ± 9.41) for males, indicating greater stress responses among females. Conclusions: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores confirmed elevated anxiety levels during exams. The findings suggest that academic stress negatively impacts TAC while triggering a moderate increase in salivary cortisol, underlining the need for stress management interventions in dental education.

Keywords: cortisol; dental students; saliva; stress; total antioxidant capacity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A comparison of salivary cortisol levels during low-stress and high-stress periods.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in saliva under low- and high-stress conditions.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A comparison of STAI scores during low-stress and high-stress periods among dental students.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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