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
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 16, 2006

Publication Date:
05 July 2007 (online)

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.

References

  • 1 Bangsbo J. The physiology of soccer - with special reference to intense intermittent exercise.  Acta Physiol Scand Suppl. 1994;  619 1-155
  • 2 Bird S, Davison R. Physiological Testing Guidelines. Leeds; British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences 1997
  • 3 Bishop N C, Blannin A K, Armstrong E, Rickman M, Gleeson M. Carbohydrate and fluid intake affect the saliva flow rate and IgA response to cycling.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 2046-2051
  • 4 Blannin A K, Robson P J, Walsh N P, Clark A M, Glennon L, Gleeson M. The effect of exercising to exhaustion at different intensities on saliva immunoglobulin A, protein and electrolyte secretion.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 547-552
  • 5 Borg G A. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;  14 377-381
  • 6 Bradford M M. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding.  Anal Biochem. 1976;  72 248-254
  • 7 Carli G, Bonifazi M, Lodi L, Lupo C, Martelli G, Viti A. Hormonal and metabolic effects following a football match.  Int J Sports Med. 1986;  7 36-38
  • 8 Chard T. An Introduction to Radioimmunoassay and Related Techniques. Amsterdam; Elsevier 1990
  • 9 Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioural Science. Hillsdale, NJ; Lawrence Erlbaum 1988
  • 10 Cole A, Eastoe J. Biochemistry and Oral Biology. London; Wright 1988
  • 11 Dawes C. Rhythms in salivary flow rate and composition.  Int J Chronobiol. 1974;  2 253-279
  • 12 Dimitriou L, Sharp N C, Doherty M. Circadian effects on the acute responses of salivary cortisol and IgA in well trained swimmers.  Br J Sports Med. 2002;  36 260-264
  • 13 Drust B, Reilly T, Cable N T. Physiological responses to laboratory-based soccer-specific intermittent and continuous exercise.  J Sports Sci. 2000;  18 885-892
  • 14 Durnin J VGA, Womersley J. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years.  Br J Nutr. 1974;  32 77-97
  • 15 Fahlman M M, Engels H J. Mucosal IgA and URTI in American college football players: a year longitudinal study.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005;  37 374-380
  • 16 Filaire E, Le Scanff C, Duche P, Lac G. The relationship between salivary adrenocortical hormones changes and personality in elite female athletes during handball and volleyball competition.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 1990;  70 297-302
  • 17 Fleshner M. Exercise and neuroendocrine regulation of antibody production: protective effect of physical activity on stress-induced suppression of the specific antibody response.  Int J Sports Med. 2000;  21 14-19
  • 18 Gleeson M, Bishop N C, Sterne V L, Hawkins A J. Diurnal variation in saliva immunoglobulin A concentration and the effect of a previous day of heavy exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 S54
  • 19 Gleeson M, McDonald W A, Pyne D B, Cripps A W, Francis J L, Fricker P A, Clancy R L. Salivary IgA levels and infection risk in elite swimmers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 67-73
  • 20 Gleeson M, Pyne D B. Special feature for the Olympics: effects of exercise on the immune system: exercise effects on mucosal immunity.  Immunol Cell Biol. 2000;  78 536-544
  • 21 Gleeson M, Walsh N P, Blannin A K, Robson P J, Cook L, Donnelly A E, Day S H. The effect of severe eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on plasma elastase, glutamine and zinc concentrations.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1998;  77 543-546
  • 22 Hooper S L, MacKinnon L T, Gordon R D, Bachmann A W. Hormonal responses of elite swimmers to overtraining.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  25 741-747
  • 23 Jacks D E, Sowash J, Anning J, McGloughlin T, Andres F. Effect of exercise at three exercise intensities on salivary cortisol.  J Strength Cond Res. 2002;  16 286-289
  • 24 Li T L, Gleeson M. The effect of single and repeated bouts of prolonged cycling and circadian variation on saliva flow rate, immunoglobulin A and alpha-amylase responses.  J Sports Sci. 2004;  22 1015-1024
  • 25 Ljungberg G, Ericson T, Ekblom B, Birkhed D. Saliva and marathon running.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1997;  7 214-219
  • 26 Mackinnon L T. Immunoglobulin, antibody and exercise.  Exerc Immunol Rev. 1996;  2 1-35
  • 27 MacKinnon L T, Ginn E, Seymour G. Effects of exercise during sports training and competition on salivary IgA levels. Husband AJ Behaviour and Immunity. Boca Raton, Florida; CRC Press, Inc 1992: 169-177
  • 28 Mackinnon L T, Hooper S. Mucosal (secretory) immune system responses to exercise of varying intensity and during overtraining.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 179-183
  • 29 Malm C, Ekblom O, Ekblom B. Immune system alteration in response to two consecutive soccer games.  Acta Physiol Scand. 2004;  180 143-155
  • 30 Malm C, Ekblom O, Ekblom B. Immune system alteration in response to increased physical training during a five day soccer training camp.  Int J Sports Med. 2004;  25 471-476
  • 31 Nakamura D, Akimoto T, Suzuki S, Kono J. Decreased salivary s-IgA levels before appearance of upper respiratory tract infection in collegiate soccer players. Reilly T, Cabri J, Araújo D Science and Football V. Lisbon; Routledge 2003: 526-533
  • 32 Navazesh M, Christensen C M. A comparison of whole mouth resting and stimulated salivary measurement procedures.  J Dent Res. 1982;  61 1158-1162
  • 33 Nieman D C. Exercise, upper respiratory tract infection, and the immune system.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 128-139
  • 34 Nieman D C. Immune response to heavy exertion.  J Appl Physiol. 1997;  82 1385-1394
  • 35 Passelergue P, Lac G. Saliva cortisol, testosterone and T/C ratio variations during a wrestling competition and during the post-competitive recovery period.  Int J Sports Med. 1999;  20 109-113
  • 36 Rebelo A N, Candeias J R, Fraga M M, Duarte J A, Soares J M, Magalhaes C, Torrinha J A. The impact of soccer training on the immune system.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1998;  38 258-261
  • 37 Reilly T. An ergonomics model of the soccer training process.  J Sports Sci. 2005;  23 561-572
  • 38 Reilly T, Brooks G A. Exercise and the circadian variation in body temperature measures.  Int J Sports Med. 1986;  7 358-362
  • 39 Sari-Sarraf V, Reilly T, Doran D A. Salivary IgA response to intermittent and continuous exercise.  Int J Sports Med. 2006;  27 849-855
  • 40 Shannon I L, Feller R P, Suddick R P. Light deprivation and parotid flow in the human.  J Dent Res. 1972;  51 1642-1645
  • 41 Smith J A. Exercise immunology and neutrophils.  Int J Sports Med. 1997;  18 46-55
  • 42 Walsh N P, Montague J C, Callow N, Rowlands A V. Saliva flow rate, total protein concentration and osmolality as potential markers of whole body hydration status during progressive acute dehydration in humans.  Arch Oral Biol. 2004;  49 149-154
  • 43 Walsh N P, Blannin A K, Clark A M, Cook L, Robson P J, Gleeson M. The effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise on saliva IgA, total protein and alpha-amylase.  J Sports Sci. 1999;  17 129-134

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