title: Salivary levels of immunoglobulin A in triathletes.
abstract: We investigated whether the physical exercise of an olympic distance triathlon affected the salivary IgA excretion of triathletes, as a biomarker for mucosal immune defence. 42 triathletes participated in the study. It was found that the salivary flow rate was decreased significantly after the race, thereby resulting in a significant reduction of the total salivary IgA output. The salivary IgA concentration (mg IgA/ml) did not differ, but expressed as total salivary protein, a significant reduction was observed. This was on the account of the salivary protein concentration (mg protein/ml), which was significantly increased. In contrast to the IgA secretion, the salivary amylase activity was increased significantly after the race. Therefore, our data suggest that the exercise of a triathlon may decrease the level of IgA-mediated immune protection at the mucosal surface. As triathletes may during the race be exposed to micro-organisms present in the swimming water, a decreased IgA-mediated immunity during the race may pose triathletes at an increased risk of infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Pathology and Immunobiology, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. p.steerenberg@rivm.nl
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Steerenberg
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: van Asperen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Nieuw Amerongen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biewenga
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Medema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D015415:Biomarkers; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D000681:Amylases