Salivary alpha-amylase is a highly valid parameter reflecting alterations induced by psychosocial stressors that is more sensitive to psychological stress than blood pressure or heart rate. Stress-induced increases of salivary alpha-amylase activity are independent of flow rate and sampling method. We found that acute psychosocial stress induced a significant increase of salivary alpha-amylase activity in the stress paradigm. Combined, the rise of state anxiety and the concomitant increase of salivary alpha-amylase activity indicates the potency of the stressor experienced by the participants and emphasizes the scope of the stress-induced mobilization of antioxidant activity as a means of stress protection. The levels of state anxiety at stress were significantly higher in women than in men at stress and at rest. However, we did not find any significant difference of alpha-amylase levels at baseline and at stress between men and women. Furthermore, no sex differences were observed in the absolute and relative increases of alpha-amylase activity in response to stress that is consistent with studies of impact of sex on basal activity of salivary alpha-amylase and on acute salivary alpha-amylase stress responses. The absence of sex-specific differences of stress-induced increases in salivary alpha-amylase activity might indicate involvement of pathways other than SAM activation regulating different antioxidant response in men and women. Oxidative alterations are important factors in virtually all processes in the organism. It is known that under normal conditions 1–3% of all electrons produced by the mitochondrial electron transport chain are diverted to generation of superoxide, that can further interact with other molecules to produce other reactive species. ROS are thus a byproduct of aerobic metabolism that can damage components of the cell because of their high chemical reactivity. Evidence from a growing body of literature suggests importance of excessive oxidative stress in disease incidence, severity, morbidity and mortality. Psychosocial stress is a potent contributor to oxidative damage, possibly due to production of free radicals in autooxidation of catecholamines. However, recent research suggests, that psychosocial stress can sometimes lead to augmented resilience to oxidative damage. Our findings indicate, that acute psychosocial stress can result in robust activation of antioxidant defenses and a decrease of oxidative damage. In the present work, examination stress resulted in a significant increase of ALK5 Inhibitor II supply catalase activity and a decrease of levels of oxidized proteins in whole saliva of young people. We did not find change of TBARS levels between rest and stress conditions indicating that the stressful experience failed to intensify lipid peroxidation. Men and women differ in many aspects of health as well as exhibit marked differences in disease symptoms, prognosis, psychological and social impact. Men are known to be more vulnerable to a variety of diseases, for instance, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative stress is one of the main factors involved in pathophysiology of the diseases.