Interactions between mastication and stress

• Published in: Revista medicală Română Vol. 65; no. 4; pp. 266 - 269
• Main Authors: Kozma, Andrei, Agop-Forna, Doriana, Lazarescu, Horia, Forna, Norina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amaltea Medical Publishing House 31-12-2018
• Subjects: histamines; hpa axis; mastication; salivary markers; stress
• ISSN: 1220-5478; 2069-606X
• DOI: 10.37897/RMJ.2018.4.5

The main neuroendocrine response to stress is via activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that contribute to the release of glucocorticoid hormone and ACTH. The activation of the HPA axis is a physiological reaction related to stress adaptation but repeated or prolonged HPA axis hyperactivity induces various physiological and psychological disorders. Mastication attenuates stress-induced disorders, cognitive and psychological impairment via suppression of stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system. Chewing induces the increase of the histamine level in the hippocampus that contribute to the recovery of stress-attenuated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and the stimulation of the neural centers on long-term. The measuring of stress markers in saliva (alpha-amylasesympathetic nervous system marker, salivary cortisol – endocrine marker, immunoglobulin A-immune system marker) facilitates the assessment of the role of mastication in the stress level attenuation.