The purpose of this study was to elucidate the changes in immunity before and after 5 days of consecutive training using saliva samples.
The subjects were 20 male university students who were members of basketball clubs. Saliva samples were collected before and after 5-day training. The Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) was measured it using CUBE Reader. The ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), sleeping state, sleeping time and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms during the period of 5 days training were measured.
The sIgA significantly decreased before and after the training (pre: 385.5 ± 207.7 μg/mL，post: 191.9 ± 114.7 μg/mL, p<0.01). RPE was 14.9 ± 3.2, sleep state was 2.5 ± 0.8, and sleep period was 406.7 ± 84.2 min. URTI symptoms were observed in 4 athletes during the training period.
The results of this study showed that training performed continuously for 5 days weakens the immunity of athletes. The resistance to pathogens by mucosal immunity was suppressed by 5 days of training.
