Abstract

Background and objective: Intense physical activity and psychological stress cause the suppression of mucosal immune system in athletes, since the suppression of this system influences on athlete's ability for training and match so the aim of this study was to compare the mucosal immune responses in soccer players in half time and full time soccer match. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 22 soccer players of two Iranian teams of second division soccer league with mean age of 21±2 years, BMI 24.6± 2.1 kg/m2, V02max 51.1±3.3 ml.kg-1.min. Four ml unstimulated saliva samples were collected during 4 minutes before, between the two halves and full time and immediately after match. Changes of immune parameters between the two halves and full time of the match were compared. Findings: There was not a significant difference in indicators IgA, mucosal osmolality, cortisol, saliva rate and IgA to osmolality ratio between the two halves and full time of the match (p<0.05). On the other hand, from start to finish of the match, there was a significant increase in osmolality rates (87.47 to 106 mOsmol.kg-1) and salivary cortisol (3.31 to 3.83 ng.ml-1) and also a significant decrease in salvia flow rate (459.52 to 376.43μl. min), IgA concentration (199.65 to 170.68 mg.l-1)(p=0.000) and IgA to osmolality ratio (2.28 to 1.61 μg.mOsmol-1, p=0.002). However no difference in the solute secretion rate has been found (40.19 to 39.90 μOsmol. min, p=0.861). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, we can claim that time factor can have inappropriate effects on mucosal immune function and soccer players must pay attention to the recovery between the two halves and after match.