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The effect of exercise intensity and duration on salivary immunoglobulin A

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Summary

Two experiments were performed to examine salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) responses to varying levels of exercise intensity and duration. For experiment 1, 9 college men (mean age, SD=23.56, 1.64 years) completed treadmill runs of 15, 30, and 45 min at approximately 60% of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max). For experiment 2, 9 other college men (mean age, SD=23.67, 2.0 years) ran for 20 min at approximately 50, 65 and 80% of VO2max. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected before, and immediately, 1 and 2 h after the exercise. Samples were assayed for s-IgA using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean s-IgA levels did not change significantly (P>0.05) at any of the post-exercise collection times when compared to pre-exercise levels. The results of this investigation indicated that running at intensities of 50–80% of VO2max and for durations of 15–45 min did not affect s-IgA levels.

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McDowell, S.L., Chaloa, K., Housh, T.J. et al. The effect of exercise intensity and duration on salivary immunoglobulin A. Eur J Appl Physiol 63, 108–111 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235178

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