Salivary immunoglobulin A, cortisol and behavior measures during training and competition in young soccer players

Author(s)

Camila Gobo de Freitas

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Educação Física e Esportes (EEFE/BT)
• Defense date: 2013-06-07

Examining board members

Alexandre Moreira; Marcelo Saldanha Aoki; Reury Frank Pereira Bacurau

• Advisor: Alexandre Moreira

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of training and competition in the responses of hormonal parameters, indicators of oral mucosal immune function, behavior and episodes of upper respiratory tract infection in young soccer players. Therefore, two studies were developed. In the first study it was investigated the responses of salivary cortisol, stress tolerance and severity of episodes of upper respiratory tract infection in young soccer players that underwent a 4-week pre-competitive mesocycle, which was divided into in an overload and a taper period and preceded the most important national competition of the category. Eleven male soccer players who belonged to the under-17 team provided saliva samples, on a fast, for analysis of salivary cortisol and answered the Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA) and the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 (WURSS-21) during a 4-week period. The rate of perceived exertion of the session (REP-session) was registered after every training session during the investigation period for analysis of internal training load (ITL). The main findings of the study were: significantly higher cortisol concentrations and values of ITL in the first week of the overload period when compared to the values of the third and fourth weeks and the negative correlation observed between stress tolerance and severity of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), suggesting that a decay of stress tolerance might cause an increase of the risk or incidence of URTI episodes in young soccer players. In the second study it was analyzed the effect of competition on the immune function of the oral mucosa and on RPE-session in young soccer players. For that, the salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and RPE-session responses in official and simulated games were compared. Twenty six young male soccer players were observed during two official and two simulated matches. Each player participated in a simulated (S) and an official match (O). Subjects provided saliva samples before (PRE) and right after (POST) each match for analysis of SIgA concentration (absolute concentration SIgAabs and the secretion of SIgA SIgArate). RPE-session was answered after every match. Reductions of SIgAabs and SIgArate from PRE to POST moment were observed only during O condition. A higher SIgArate value was observed during O condition in the PRE moment when compared to the same moment during S condition, demonstrating that the psychological stress experienced by the young athletes before the beginning of the official match modulated the oral mucosa immunity of 8 these young soccer players. It is possible to conclude that a design that alternates two weeks of overload with two weeks of taper does not represent an excessive load for young soccer players and that the participation of these young players in official matches is perceived as a source of stress of greater magnitude than specific training sessions, modulating the response of markers of immunity of the oral mucosa (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/13084-0 - Salivary immunoglobulin A and cortisol responses during training and official matches in young soccer players
• Grantee: Camila Gobo de Freitas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master