Investigation of Salivary Osmolality, Solute Secretion Rate, IgA to Osmolality Ratio, Saliva Flow Rate and Cortisol Changes in Soccer Players

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

Purpose: The impact of physical exercise as a metabolic and physical stressor on immune system and its related function and secreted proteins has been well established. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the responses of mucosal immune parameters to an official soccer match in young soccer players. 
Material and methods: Twenty-two Iranian male young soccer players (21±2yr, and 51/1±3/3 
ml/kg/minVO2max) volunteered in this study. Daily dietary has been recorded 48h before and 24h after the 
match. Un-stimulated saliva samples were collected before, immediately and 24 hours after the match. Data 
were analyzed by using an ANOVA (repeated measure) and a suitable following post hoc was performed. A 
significant was accepted at P< 0.05. 
Results: salivary osmolality and IgA to osmolality ratio were significantly increased immediately after the 
match. There were no significant differences between other time points. An increase and decrease in cortisol 
concentration and saliva flow rate over time points were observed, respectively. There were no significant 
changes in the solute secretion rates over the sampling times. 
Discussion and conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that a single session of an official 
soccer match (90-minute) reduces the saliva secretion which in turn to resulted in a higher osmolality ratio and 
salivary cortisol. These later changes might suppress the mucosal immune activities, which may ultimately decrease the soccer players' physical efficiency. 

Keywords

• mucosal immune system
• saliva osmolality
• solute secretion rate
• soccer

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