title: Abnormal diurnal patterns of salivary α-amylase and cortisol secretion in acute patients with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evidence that the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is decreased in acute anorexia nervosa (AN) is not consistent. Therefore, we aimed to assess the SNS basal activity in malnourished AN patients through the measurement of diurnal salivary levels of α-amylase, whose secretion is regulated by the SNS. As secondary aim, we measured also salivary cortisol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight symptomatic female patients with restrictive AN and eight age-matched healthy women underwent saliva sample collection at awakening and over the day. α-amylase and cortisol were assayed by ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both patients and controls, saliva α-amylase levels significantly decreased during 60 min after awakening and then progressively rose towards the afternoon/evening. AN patients exhibited significantly reduced levels of the salivary enzyme with a significant decrease in its overall diurnal secretion and a dysregulated secretory pattern. As compared to control women, AN patients exhibited significantly enhanced levels of salivary cortisol at awakening, an enhanced and advanced cortisol secretion after awakening but no significant change in the overall diurnal secretion of the salivary hormone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the activity of the SNS, evaluated through the assessment of the diurnal secretion of salivary α-amylase, is impaired in the acute phase of AN whereas the cortisol awakening response is enhanced.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy. monteri@tin.it
authors: Palmiero
authors: P
authors: Monteleone
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Scognamiglio
authors: Alessio Maria
authors: AM
authors: Monteleone
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Mastromo
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Steardo
authors: Ismene
authors: I
authors: Serino
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Maj
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone