Abstract
The influence of carbohydrate (1 l/h of a 6 %
carbohydrate beverage), gender, and age on salivary IgA (sIgA) changes and
incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was studied in 98 runners
following two competitive marathon races. The pattern of change in sIgA
concentration differed significantly between carbohydrate (C)
(N = 48) and placebo (P) (N = 50) groups, with
higher post-race values measured in P. However, when this was adjusted for
saliva protein concentration and saliva secretion rate, no difference between
groups was measured. For all subjects combined, sIgA concentration, saliva IgA:
protein ratio (spIgA), and sIgA secretion rates fell significantly
(21 %, 31 %, and 25 %, respectively) below pre-race levels
by 1,5-h post-race (p < 0.001). The pattern of change in all
saliva measures did not differ significantly between the 12 women and 86 men in
this study, and between the 23 older (≥ 50 yr) and 75 younger (< 50 yr)
subjects. Ninety-three subjects returned health/sickness logs, and of these, 16
(17 %) reported developing URTI during the 15-d period following the
race event. The 1.5-h post-race spIgA concentration, but not sIgA concentration
or secretion rate, was lower in runners reporting URTI compared to those who
did not (254 ± 30 and 388 ± 26 µg ·
mg-1, respectively, p = 0.002), and this was
negatively correlated with the post-race plasma cortisol concentration
(r = -0.36, p < 0.001). Of the 16 runners, six
were in the C group and 10 in the P group (Chi square = 1.11,
p = 0.293). In conclusion, the output of sIgA decreased in
runners following a competitive marathon, and this was not influenced by
carbohydrate ingestion, age, or gender.
Key words
Running · infection · cortisol ·
catecholamines · carbohydrate
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D. C. Nieman
Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science ·
Appalachian State University
Boone · North Carolina 28608 · USA ·
Phone: +01 (828262) 6318
Fax: +01 (828262) 3138
Email: niemandc@appstate.edu