The effect of exercise during sport training on levels of salivary diagnostic markers

Abstract

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.