(P20-001-25) Gender-Specific Interactions Between Obesity, Alcohol Consumption and Salivary Stress Biomarkers Among College Students in United States

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between obesity measures, alcohol intake, salivary α-amylase activity, and cortisol levels across gender groups in college students.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of college-aged students, participants (n = 190) completed the NIH Diet History Questionnaire II. Body composition was measured via Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Salivary α-amylase activity was assessed using the Salimetrics α-amylase kinetic enzyme assay kit, while cortisol levels were determined using the salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay kit. Multivariable regression analyses explained the effects of the interaction of alcohol consumption by BMI on α-amylase and cortisol activity. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The students' mean age was 20±2.6 years with a bodyweight distribution of 38% overweight/obese, 54% normal weight, and 8% underweight. Among students with overweight and obesity, each unit increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a 1.52-unit increase in salivary α-amylase activity (p=0.030). Sex-stratified analysis revealed that this relationship was driven by females only, where each unit increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a 2.24 unit increase in salivary α-amylase activity (β=2.24, R²=0.16, p=0.012) in the overweight/obesity group, with no significant effect observed in males. No significant interaction between BMI and alcohol consumption was detected for cortisol levels. However, among male students only, significant main effects were observed for African Americans (β=0.22, R²=0.39, p=0.020) and overweight/obese status (β=-0.19, R²=0.39, p=0.025) on cortisol levels. No associations between BMI and alcohol intake on cortisol levels were shown in the combined sample or in females only.

Conclusions: Sex-specific patterns in alcohol consumption and stress biomarkers among college students with overweight/obesity suggest different physiological responses between males and females, with stronger associations in females for salivary α-amylase and distinct cortisol patterns in males, particularly African Americans.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station, Mississippi State University.