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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(5): 366-371
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965427
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Repeated Bouts of Soccer-Specific Intermittent Exercise on Salivary IgA

V. Sari-Sarraf1 , 2 , T. Reilly2 , D. Doran2 , G. Atkinson2
  • 1Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
  • 2Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Publication History

accepted after revision October 16, 2006

Publication Date:
05 July 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Failure to recover fully between sessions has been suggested to cause immunodepression. Therefore, the cumulative effects of soccer-specific intermittent exercise undertaken on different days 48 h apart on salivary IgA, cortisol and total protein concentration were investigated. Nine male subjects completed two trials of soccer-specific intermittent exercise 48 h apart on a motorised treadmill. Timed unstimulated saliva samples were collected immediately before and after exercise, and 24 and 48 h post-exercise. Salivary IgA concentration (EX1: 215 ± 160 to 335 ± 246 and EX2: 144 ± 93 to 271 ± 185 mg · l-1, p = 0.007), osmolality (p = 0.001) and total protein (p = 0.001) increased immediately following exercise in both trials and decreased 24 h afterwards, whereas saliva flow rate decreased significantly (p = 0.015) before returning to pre-exercise values 24 h postexercise. The IgA secretion rate, IgA to osmolality ratio, IgA to total protein, solute secretion rate, total protein secretion rate, and cortisol did not differ between the time-points. The results suggest that performing two bouts of moderate intensity soccer-specific intermittent exercise 48 h apart does not suppress resting salivary IgA concentration significantly although a small progressive reduction in salivary IgA was observed. These findings may not extend to successive competitive soccer games when vulnerable players might experience clinically relevant reductions in s-IgA.

Key words

repeated exercise - immunoglobulin A - cortisol

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Dr. Vahid Sari-Sarraf

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences
University of Tabriz

29 Bahman BLVD

51666 14774 Tabriz

Iran

Phone: + 98 41 13 39 32 54

Fax: + 98 41 13 35 60 08

Email: vsarisarraf@yahoo.com