Chewing unflavored gum does not reduce cortisol levels during a cognitive task but increases the response of the sympathetic nervous system

The effect of chewing gum on a mild stress load was less pronounced than in previous studies. Besides the detection of cortisol in saliva, not in plasma, in previous studies, flavored gum was used. Aroma active compounds might have substantially contributed to the beneficial effects of gum on biomarker of stress shown before.