Introduction/Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in
concentrations of urea, creatinine, uric acid, proteins, aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and salivary amylase in saliva
samples collected before, immediately after and 30 minutes after physical
activity performed during basketball and mixed martial arts (MMA) training.
Methods. Twenty-two athletes, 11 basketball players and 11 mixed martial
arts (MMA) fighters, 18 men and four women, aged 15-24 years, participated
in the study. Saliva samples were collected using sterile saliva containers
(Salivette?) from all participants before training (sample 1), immediately
after (sample 2) and 30 minutes after training (sample 3). The levels of all
investigated biomarkers were measured spectrophotometrically using a
biochemical analyzer. Results. Statistically significant differences were
present among samples 1, 2 and, 3 in the concentrations of urea, AST and CK
in samples collected from MMA fighters (Friedman test). Among three samples
taken from basketball players, the significant differences were not observed
for the analyzed parameters. When concentrations of all diagnostic markers
were compared between basketball and MMA independently for samples 1, 2 and
3, statistically significant differences (Mann-Whitney U test) existed in
concentrations of urea, uric acid, proteins and AST. Conclusion. Based on
the results of the present study, the influence of the exercise on the
levels of salivary diagnostic markers, such as urea, AST and CK, is more
evident during MMA than basketball training. Saliva composition of MMA
fighters and basketball players differ in terms of levels of urea, uric
acid, proteins and AST.
