title: Salivary cortisol in top-level professional soccer players.
abstract: We have tested the hypothesis that salivary cortisol increases after a competitive training match in top-level male professional soccer players divided in team A (n = 11) versus team B (n = 11). Saliva samples collected before and after the match were analyzed. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results from a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures showed no significant changes in salivary cortisol between either teams or time points (P > 0.05). Further investigation regarding competitive matches in a competition environment is warranted. In summary, the influence of intensive competitive training match alone appears to be minimal on salivary cortisol changes in top-level soccer adapted to this type of stress. From a practical application, the variability of the responses among the players leads us to suggest that there is a need to individually analyse the results with team sports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. alemoreira@usp.br
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arsati
authors.forename: Ynara Bosco
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Lima Arsati
authors.forename: Danilo Augusto
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Vera Cavalcanti
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: de Araújo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone