title: Flavour-enhanced cortisol release during gum chewing.
abstract: There is some evidence to suggest that chewing gum reduces chronic stress. However, it remains controversial how the taste and odour properties of chewing gum influence stress. The present study was designed to investigate this issue in human subjects. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we tested salivary cortisol concentration, which is thought to be a stress marker, in 96 adults who chewed gum with different combinations of taste and odour. Subjects could discriminate between the types of gum without prior information. Salivary cortisol concentrations were highest and lowest for the subjects who chewed the most flavourful gum and the least flavourful gum, respectively. These findings suggest that the salivary cortisol level during gum chewing is not a marker of negative emotions (i.e., stressful conditions) as traditionally considered but, rather, an index of positive emotions that can facilitate biological responses to overcome stressful conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Division of System Neuroscience, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.affiliation: Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone