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Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Collecting Saliva and Measuring Salivary Cortisol and Alpha-amylase in Frail Community Residing Older Adults via Family Caregivers
Published on: December 18, 2013
The Association of Salivary Serotonin With Mood and Cardio-Autonomic Function: A Preliminary Report
Michał Seweryn Karbownik1, Steven Daniel Hicks2
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
Background:
Serotonin plays an important role in mood regulation and depression. However, it is not clear whether the levels of serotonin in saliva are related to current mood.
Aim:
To test the association of salivary serotonin concentrations with mood, as well as cardiovascular and autonomic parameters.
Materials And Methods:
Saliva samples were obtained from collegiate runners and output parameters were examined before and after physical activity.
Results:
Salivary serotonin concentration was negatively associated with current mood (β = -0.32, 95%CI -0.62 to -0.02, p = 0.037, analysis adjusted for potential confounders), but insignificantly with measured cardiovascular and autonomic parameters.
Conclusions:
Salivary serotonin may reflect current mood. The results are preliminary and require further evaluation.
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