Salivary alpha amylase as a stress predictor in pregnant women who have undergone OGTT

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to search the stress in pregnant women whether increase or not with 75 gr oral glukose tolerance test (OGTT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospectively designed study, we included 20 healthy pregnant women in 23-28 weeks of gestational age, who have undergone 75 gr OGTT and have not had any other stressors. Psychological stress was assessed by using salivary alpha-amylase as a psychological stress biomarker and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Salivary alpha amylase levels were measured three times: just before the test (amylase-1), immediately prior to second hour blood sampling (amylase-2) and 24 hours after the OGTT (amylase-3). The results were evaluated with the sociodemographic values and HAD scores. RESULTS : Amylase-2 level was significantly higher when compared with amylase-1 level. Amylase-3 level was significantly lower than both the amylase-1 and amylase-2 levels. CONCLUSION : Routine OGTT applied during pregnancy may be a temporary stress factor which does not lead to emotional instability.