The effects of a 12 day intensified training period on the exercise- induced salivary hormone and mucosal immune responses

Abstract

The present study investigated the exercise-induced salivary hormonal (cortisol and testosterone) and mucosal immunological (salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA)) responses to a 30 min high-intensity running bout (RPEtreadmill) before and after (~1 day and 6 days after) a 12 day intensified training period. Eight active males completed the study. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected pre-exercise, post-exercise and 30 min post-exercise and assessed for salivary cortisol, testosterone and SIgA. 10 km TT performance decreased by 3% from pre- to post-training (ES = 0.24). The exercise-induced salivary testosterone response significantly elevated by 36% pre-training and decreased by 42% post-training (ES = 0.43). Salivary cortisol and SIgA responses were unaffected by the exercise and training, although a small ES between pre- and post-training were observed (0.32-0.49). Four participants completed a post-recovery trial and salivary cortisol, testosterone, SIgA responses were unaffected by the exercise and training, although a small to large ES between pre-training, post-training and post-recovery were observed (0.4-1.24). Individual results are presented for four participants and two were identified as showing signs of overreaching. This study demonstrates that the RPEtreadmill bout induces robust elevations in salivary testosterone and can potentially highlight any alterations in this hormone following a 12 day intensified training period.