Salivary IgA is Not a Reliable Indicator of Upper Respiratory Infection in Collegiate Female Soccer Athletes

Salivary IgA is Not a Reliable Indicator of Upper Respiratory Infection in Collegiate Female Soccer Athletes

by Vardiman, John P; Riggs, Charles E; Galloway, Doug L; Waxman, Mickey B; Touchberry, Chad D; Gallagher, Phillip M

Vardiman, JP, Riggs, CE, Galloway, DL, Waxman, MB, Touchberry, CD, and Gallagher, PM. Salivary IgA is not a reliable indicator of upper respiratory infection in collegiate female soccer athletes. J Strength Cond Res 25(7): 1937-1942, 2011—

It has been shown that mucosal immunity measures such as salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) can be affected by sport activities and has resulted in an increased susceptibility to infection. However, there is limited research that has evaluated the change in s-IgA throughout a full sport training season. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the change in s-IgA levels and incidence of upper respiratory infection in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level female soccer athletes compared to age matched controls over an entire sport training season.

Saliva samples were collected from 12 randomly selected female collegiate soccer athletes and 8 age-matched controls. Samples were collected bimonthly from the athletes' pre-and post-sport training sessions and pre- and post-90-minute sedentary period for the controls.

Analysis showed there was a significant (p < 0.05) group × time interaction in total protein (TP) for collections 1 and 4 and a significant (p < 0.05) group × time interaction in s-IgA/TP for collections 2 and 3. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between athletes and controls for s-IgA or total symptom days (TSDs). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between absolute s-IgA and TSDs or s-IgA/TP and TSDs throughout the sport training season. The large range of measurable levels for s-IgA at the different time points for athletes and controls and the lack of relationship between s-IgA levels and TSDs indicate that s-IgA is not an appropriate measure to determine an athlete's susceptibility to during a training season.

Funny how we can have two opposite conclusions from two different studies published in the same issue of a publication. This is an example of why I read the studies myself and make my own decisions on it validity and use.

Salivary Immunoglobulin A Responses in Professional Athletes

Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research:

July 2011 - Volume 25 - Issue 7 - pp 1932-1936

doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e7fbc0

Original Research

Salivary Immunoglobulin A Responses in Professional Top-Level Futsal Players

Moreira, Alexandre1; Arsati, Franco2; de Oliveira Lima-Arsati, Ynara Bosco2; de Freitas, Camila Gobo1; de Araújo, Vera Cavalcanti3

Abstract

Moreira, A, Arsati, F, de Oliveira Lima-Arsati, YB, de Freitas, CG, and de Araújo, VC. Salivary immunoglobulin a responses in professional top-level futsal players. J Strength Cond Res 25(7): 1932-1936, 2011—

The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in 10 professional top-level Brazilian futsal players after 2 highly competitive games separated by 7 days. Unstimulated saliva was collected over a 5-minute period at PRE- and POST-match. The SIgA was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and expressed as the absolute concentration (SIgAabs) and secretion rate of IgA (SIgArate). Rate of perceived exertion and heart rate were used to monitor the exercise intensity. A 2-way analysis of variance with repeated measures showed nonsignificant differences between matches to SIgAabs, SIgArate, and saliva flow rate (p > 0.05). However, significant time differences were observed for all these parameters.

In summary, we showed that a competitive training match induced a decrease in SIgA levels in top-level futsal players, which suggests an increment of the vulnerability to infections meditated by the training stimulus. This decrease suggests that the athletes were at an increased risk of developing an upper respiratory tract infection, and therefore, it could be necessary to take protective actions to minimize contact with cold viruses or even reduce the training load for athletes.