s-IgA Response in Females Following a Single Bout of Moderate Intensity Exercise in Cold and Thermoneutral Environments

Abstract

Previous research has linked exercise under unfavourable environmental conditions to decreased concentration and/or secretion rate of secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of moderate exercise in a thermoneutral (TN) and a cold (COLD) environment on the concentration of s-IgA and the secretion rate of s-IgA in moderately active females. Sixteen females (23.4 ± 6.8 yrs, 61.1 ± 5.9 kg, 1.64 ± 0.07 m) served as subjects for this study. On separate occasions, one week apart, all subjects ran or walked for 30 minutes at 71 % of individual heart rate reserve on an outdoor (1 °C) or an indoor track (24 °C). Unstimulated saliva samples were collected for 4-min immediately pre (PR), post (POST), and 30-min post (30POST) exercise. Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaires were completed pre and post exercise intervention and Global Mood State (GMS) was calculated. The absolute concentration of s-IgA, and total non-specific protein were measured and the secretion rate of s-IgA and s-IgA:Protein were calculated. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that flow rate increased in COLD and decreased in TN such that it was significantly lower (POST) and (30POST) in the TN environment when compared to COLD. There was a significant increase in the secretion rate of s-IgA at 30POST for the COLD trial and a significant decrease at 30POST for the TN trial. No significant differences were found for the concentration of s-IgA, the s-IgA:Protein:ratio, or GMS. Stepwise regression revealed that with all predictors in the model, only the concentration of s-IgA accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in cold temperature, while in the TN environment, both the concentration of s-IgA and the flow rate accounted for significant proportions of the variance. These findings suggest that moderate exercise in cold temperatures does not decrease secretion rate of s-IgA, while exercise in TN temperatures does.

Key words:

URTI - females - thermoneutral environment - cold - mood state

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