A deficiency in secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is associated with recurrent upper
respiratory tract infections both in the general community and in elite athletes.
The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise and relaxation
on various indices of sIgA in 12 male and 8 female adults who varied in levels of
recreational activity. Salivary samples were obtained before, immediately after and
30 minutes after an incremental cycle ergometer test to fatigue, after 30 minutes
of cycling at 30 % or 60 % of maximum heart rate, and after 30 minutes of relaxation
with guided imagery. Each session was run on a separate day. When expressed in relation
to changes in salivary flow rate, sIgA did not change after exercise. However, both
the absolute concentration and secretion rate of sIgA increased during relaxation
(167 ± 179 μg · ml-1, p < 0.001; and 37 ± 71 μg · min-1, p < 0.05 respectively). Nonspecific protein increased more than sIgA during incremental
exercise to fatigue (decrease in the sIgA/protein ratio 92 ± 181 μg · mg protein-1, p < 0.05), but sIgA relative to protein did not change during relaxation. Our findings
suggest that sIgA secretion rate is a more appropriate measure of sIgA than sIgA relative
to protein, both for exercise and relaxation. These data suggest the possibility of
using relaxation to counteract the negative effects of intense exercise on sIgA levels.
Key words:
Exercise, relaxation, immunoglobulin A, saliva.
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Dr. P. D. Drummond
School of PsychologyMurdoch University, 6150
Western Australia
Telefon: Phone:+ 61 (8) 93602415
Fax: Fax:+ 61 (8) 93606492
eMail: E-mail:drummond@central.murdoch.edu.au
