title: Alpha-amylase serum levels in professional soccer players are not related with physical fitness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence has showed that serum or salivary values of α-amylase predict endurance running performance. In this study we investigate whether serum α-amylase concentration may be associated with training status during a competitive season and after a detraining period in professional soccer players.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted in 15 male professional soccer players from an Italian major league team (age [mean±SD] 27±5 years, weight 76.9±4.1 kg, height 1.82±0.05 m). Serum α-amylase levels were measured 3 times during the last part of a competitive season (January, March and May) and just before preseason training (July).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic and cardiovascular fitness of soccer players was improved during the last part of the season. The levels of α-amylase did not change significantly throughout the study period (χ2=7.331, P=0.062), nor they were found to be associated with variation of physical fitness and training status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The α-amylase fluctuations throughout a competitive season and after vacation time were meaningless in professional soccer players. No significant associations with physical fitness variations could be observed. These results suggest that α-amylase concentration may be a useful parameter for identifying individual inclination to endurance exercise, but not for predicting actual training status.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Hospital 1, Madrid, Spain - fabian.sanchis@uv.es.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanchis-Gomar
authors.affiliation: Research Institute &quot;Dr. Viña Giner&quot;, Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.|School of Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alis
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, MAPEI Sport Research Center, Olgiate Olona, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampinini
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, MAPEI Sport Research Center, Olgiate Olona, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosio
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Hospital 1, Madrid, Spain.|Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000516:alpha-Amylases