Research Journal of Biological Sciences 3 (4): 395-400, 2008

ISSN: 1815-8846
Medwell Journals, 2008

The Effects of High Intensity Wrestling Training on

Saliva IgA Concentrations in Young Wrestlers
1

Bakhtiar Tartibian and 2Asghar Abbasi

Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Literature and Humanities,
Urmia University, Urmieh, Iran
2
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Humanities,
Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract: The purpose of the present study, is to examine high intensity wrestling training effects on salvia
S-IgA concentration in young wrestlers. For this purpose, 30 young wrestlers participated in this study. The
experimental group performed wrestling specific training. The salvia samples collected at rest, at the end of the
1st 5 weeks of wrestling training, at the end of the 2nd 5 weeks and at the end of the recovery period. Salvia
S-IgA was measured with ELISA method. At rest, the salvia immunoglobulin A concentrations were similar in
both groups (p = 0.462). At the end of the 1st 5 weeks of training, the salvia S-IgA concentrations of the
experimental group had a significant decrease of 39% (p = 0.087) compared to the control group. But at the
end of the 2nd 5 weeks training and at the termination of the recovery period, mucosal secretary S-IgA
concentrations indicated no significant differences between the 2 groups.
Key words: Salvia immunoglobulin A, wrestling, intensive exercise, mucosal immunity
INTRODUCTION
The immunoglobulin A, the first essential antibody
in external secretions (e.g., saliva), has very important
biological role in breast milk, respiratory tract, tear glands,
etc. This antibody has specific importance in body initial
immunoglobulin defense against local infections in
segments such as respiratory system. In addition to
protective role against local infections, IgA has
antibacterial activity against gram negative organisms,
but this activity is done in the presence of lysosomes and
there are more lysosomes in secretions containing
secretary IgA, e.g. saliva (Daniel et al., 2000). Considering
prominent roles of S-IgA against infections, studies
concerning variables indicating immune system function,
have recently been developed in athletes. But the
examination of mucosal immunity system of athletes has
recently been subjected to scientific assemblies and
clinical investigations. Epidemiologic evidences indicate
that intense exercise lead to an increase in infectious
diseases, especially it facilitate incidence of Upper
Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) in athletes. As, some
researchers believe intensive and high volume training
lead to immunological changes such as neutropenia,
lynphopenia and or mucosal secretary IgA reduction
which can be observed in athletes (Daniel et al., 2000).

Athletes who continue intensive training or take part in

prolonged competitions are possibly susceptible to upper
respiratory tract diseases and their immunity responses
are inhibited after intense exercises. This causes, in turn,
a disturbance in training performance and their poor
health stake (Heath, 1992; McDowell et al., 1992a).
Gleeson et al. (1999) examining mucosal immunity of elite
athletes reported that immediately after intensive exercises
and during 24 h recovery period, the salvia IgA was so
markedly inhibited that the inhibitory intensity is related
to exercise intensity and training volume and the low
levels of saliva IgA accompanied by an increasing risk
respiratory diseases (Gleeson, 2000a). Pederson et al.
(1998) also demonstrated a decrease of saliva S-IgA
concentration following intensive prolonged training.
Similarly, Reid et al. (2001) noted that upper respiratory
tract infections in elite athletes are resulted as deficiency
of mucosal secretary immunoglobulin A. These
researchers reported that due to moderate intensity
training (30 and 60% HRR), the S-IgA immediately after
training and during 30 min recovery period did not
change. Despite this, Schouten et al. (1988), showed a
significant increase in saliva S-IgA concentrations before
and after maximal exercise test on treadmill in 84 males.
Despite various studies done so far, the examination of
salvia S-IgA concentration changes of wrestlers due to

Corresponding Author: Bakhtiar Tartibian, Assistant professor, Department of Physical Education and sport science,
Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Valfajr 2 Street, Urmieh, Iran

395

Res. J. Biol. Sci., 3 (4): 395-400, 2008

intensive training has not been conducted so far and
since wrestling is a physical contact sport, characterized
by high training intensity and work load, training
frequency, weight and FM% loss, articular and muscular
damages, body dehydration, completion stress, various
energy tracks and contiguous changes of FILA laws,
this sport is differentiated from other sports. So, the
examination of saliva immunoglobulin A of wrestlers in
intensive exercises can support their health and
endurance in training and competitions. And this is
possible if the risk factors in wrestlers are recognized,
prevented and/or eliminated in due time. In accordance
with this, although the physical characteristics of
wrestlers are significantly related to infectious species,
the first important factor is the mucosal secretary
antibody S-IgA which is the most immunoglobulin
secreted in mucoses daily, in grams and is very important
to protect wrestlers against respiratory and mucosal
diseases.
On the other hand, the training design and method
in this study have been proportionate to wrestling
properties and physiological characteristics of wrestlers;
hence, they show objective observations from the
viewpoint of how training intensity and duration can
effect possible changes of S-IgA concentrations. For this
reason, this kind of training program consists of long
term responses (Nieman, 1991) and this is one of
the main characteristics of the present study.
Therefore, the wrestling training effects at intensity of
85% HRR during 10 weeks and the examination of
changes in a one-week recovery period on saliva S-IgA
concentration of wrestlers is the purpose of this
investigation. With regard to that, wrestling is the
national sport of Iranians and the Iranian wrestlers are
prominent in world competitions, we hope this
investigation will be effective in presenting new
findings in the fields of exercise physiology, exercise
immunology and exercise science. We can share in health
protection and promotion of wrestlers, determine
immunity margin and endurance of wrestlers during
intensive training and competitions and reduce risk
factors in this sport.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects: Thirty healthy young volunteer wrestlers
(free style), who were randomly sampled and divided into
two groups of control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15),
participated in this study. The young wrestlers were in
resting season and had enough experience and previous
record of participation in competitions and after their
completion of testimonials and awareness study
purposes, the subjects took part in various stages of the
investigation (Table 1).
Exercise training program: The study consisted of 4
temporal periods:
C
C
C
C

Resting.
The first-five weeks of training.
The second-five weeks of training.
The one-week recovery period.

To determine the initial intensity of wrestling

training, based on HR, preliminary pretest were done with
10 wrestlers and HRR maximal ranges of training were
predicted (168.87.4 beat minG1).
The experimental group participated in specific
wrestling training which consisted of 30% aerobic
training, 35% anaerobic training, 25% competitions and
10% polymeric training with intensity of 85% HRR during
4 days of the week and for 10 weeks. The control group
did not participate in any exercise activity (Bratthal and
Widerstrom, 1985). Also, to have a knowledge of health
position (Gleeson et al., 1999; Weidner, 1994b) an
examination of wrestlers past records, body weight
changes and activity levels (Clark et al., 2000), a physical
activity and health readiness questionnaire based on
previous investigators and coaches experiences was
prepared. And the control variables were measured in
various stages of investigation.
Measurement of saliva S-IgA: Saliva secretary collected
during four stages of the investigation based on the
following method:

Table 1: Comparison of two groups from the viewpoint of mean equality of physiologic-body composition variables at rest
Age
Height
Weight
Maximal HR
HR
(yrs)
(cm)
(kg)
exe (beat/min)
rest
BMI
Expri G
200.89
175.57
687
1856
643
222
Control G
201
1755
677
1886
653
232
Sig.
0.763
0.835
0.819
0.233
0.404
0.707
C
Independent sample t-test
C
Maximal HR exe: Maximal heart rate at the end of the exercise, BMI: Body mass index (weight/ height),
Sig: Significant

396

%Fat mass
(beat/min)
8.62
92
0.478

VO2max
(ml/kg/min)
522
512
0.619

Res. J. Biol. Sci., 3 (4): 395-400, 2008

C

Saliva secretaries of young wrestlers collected in

value of 4 mL in sterile glass at rest, at the end of the
fifth week, at the end of the tenth week, at the end of
the first week of recovery, after bating their mouth
with water and keeping in sterile tube at 40C. Saliva
S-IgA concentration was measured by using ELISA
method. Then by drawing the standard curve for this
sample, the S-IgA for each sample (in mL/gr %) was
reported.

Statistical analyses: All data were analyzed using

independent and paired t-tests, Mann-Whitney Test,
Friedman, chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis Test and post-hoc
(LSD) which is related to the calculation of the changes
occurred and the comparison of the different stages of the
study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
programmed, version 12.0 was used for statistical
analysis.

Fig. 1: Comparison of the mean saliva S-IgA

concentration of young wrestlers at rest, at the
end of 1st-5 weeks of training, at the end of 2nd-5
weeks of training, at the recovery

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this study, the 10- week intensive wrestling
training effects with an intensity of 85% HRR were
examined on mucosal secretary immunoglobulin A of
young wrestlers and the following results were obtained:
C

The comparison of mean physiologic and body

composition variables from the viewpoint of equality
With regard to physical characteristics of young
wrestlers (Table 1), the equality of experimental and
control groups from the viewpoint of physiological
and body composition variables at rest were analyzed
and no significant differences between the two
groups were observed (Table 1).
The comparison of Saliva S-IgA concentration of
young wrestlers in the two groups from the viewpoint
of equality at rest For the sake of assurance of the
initial differences between the two groups from the
viewpoint of mucosal secretary immunoglobulin A
concentration or awareness of lack of differences, the
two groups were compared at rest. According
to Table 2, there were no significant differences

between the two groups (p>0.05) from the

viewpoint of saliva S-IgA concentration in rest
and the two groups were similar.
The comparison of saliva S-IgA means values at the
end of the 1st 5 weeks, at the end of the 2nd 5 weeks
and in the recovery period.

The mucosal secretary IgA concentration of the

experimental group indicated a significant difference
(p = 0.087) at the end of the first five weeks of wrestling
training and changes were interpreted by using Post-Hoc
trial which revealed that this saliva antibody
concentration of the experimental group had decreased in
comparison to the control group (Table 2 and Fig. 1).
The examination of possible changes of mucosal
secretary immunoglobulin A concentration at the end of
the second five weeks of wrestling intensive training
indicated that the mean values of saliva S-IgA
concentration in the experimental group did not have any
significant differences (p = 0.623) with that of the control
group (Table 2, Fig. 1). And also, the comparison of

Table 2: Comparison of mean saliva S-IgA concentration of the young wrestlers in the experimental and control groups
Rest
End of first-five week of training
End of second-five week of trainin
Stage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group
Exper
Control
Exper
Control
Exper
Control
Variable*:
S-IgA (mg/dl)
23.916.7
19.912
12.75
2116
179
2418
Sig. #
0.462
0.087
0.632
Kruskal-Wallis Test, *XSD, ** N = 15 * N = 15 # Mann-WhitneyTest

397

Recovery period
---------------------------------Exper
Control
2923
0.244

2318

Res. J. Biol. Sci., 3 (4): 395-400, 2008

saliva S-IgA concentration mean values at the end of the
recovery period did not reveal any significant differences
between the two groups (Table 2, Fig. 1). Then, the
probable changes of saliva S-IgA concentration were
examined in the experimental group in the four stages of
the investigation and by using Will cagson, the results
related to Post-Hoc(LSD) were interpreted. In this manner
the significant differences in saliva S-IgA concentration
were observed between the first five weeks training with
that of the resting (p = 0.015), the stage of the end of the
1st 5 weeks of training with that of the one-week recovery
period (p = 0.700) and the stage of the end of the 2nd 5
weeks of training with that of the one-week recovery
period (p = 0.049). But no significant differences were
realized in the control group in comparing stages with
each other.

the recovery period (p = 0.045). So in the recovery

period the secretary immunoglobulin concentration also
increased. Mackinnon and Hooper (1994) also reported
the reduction of saliva S-IgA concentration in runners
following an intense activity and after running races.
These researchers believe that the intense training and
overtraining syndrome make athletes sensitive to Upper
Respiratory Airway Infection. Similarly, McDowell et al.
(1992a) presented a significant decrease (24%) of saliva
immunoglobulin A after an intensive exercise to
exhaustion in young men. This change continued for one
hour after the training was completed. Gleeson and Pyne
(2000) also demonstrated that in examining training
intensity on immunity indexes, intense training caused
mucosal immunity inhibition and a decrease of saliva
S-IgA concentration after maximal activity, but this
antibody concentration returned to the resting values in
24 h of recovery. Also, a decrease of saliva S-IgA
concentration in elite hockey players, swimmers, cyclists,
ski players and squash players who performed heavy
trainings was reported by Gleeson et al. (1999). But
McDowell et al. (1992b) and Bratthal and Widerstrom
(1985) presented unchanged saliva immunoglobulin A
concentration after training with an intensity of 68% VO2
max and also during the recovery.
In the present study young wrestlers performed
wrestling training at intensity of 85% HRR (168.84.7 beat
minG1) for 10 weeks and tolerated considerable training
work loads. These intense prolonged exercises, in
addition to chronic and acute inhibition of mucosal
secretary immunoglobulin A concentrations in athletes,
also had a reciprocal effect on cardiovascular and
neuromuscular systems and cause a decrease in exercise
capacity and function. Likewise, a decrease of 30% in
isotonic strength, a 15% decrease in isometric strength
and also a decrease of velocity and accuracy as a
result of this was established (Nieman, 1998). Therefore,
in this research, one possible reason for Immunoglobulin
A concentration changes of wrestlers saliva is intensive
and prolonged training period. Tharp and Barnes (Tharp
and Barnes, 1990) and Gleeson et al. (2000a) have
emphasized on the effects of intensive and prolonged
training on decrease of athletes salvia S-IgA
concentration. In this study, body weight of the
experimental group decreased by 2.5% (1.70.175 kg)
during the training period and the wrestlers confronted
probable changes in body composition, blood volume
and saliva flowing rate decrease. On the other hand,
considering training intensity and long period wrestling
training, young wrestlers ventilation increased
considerably. This, in addition to changing microorganism
values of breathing air, caused immunity molecules to be
broken because of draining airways secretions and

DISCUSSION
Evidence show that the mucosal immunity is affected
and reduced by intensive and prolonged training periods
and it causes an increase in diseases particularly Upper
Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) in athletes. These
findings are based on interviews with athletes, patients`
reports to team physicians and athletes` self-reports. The
studies have considered the mucosal secretary based on
laboratory control in this subject, are very limited
(Gleeson and Pyne, 2000; Pyne and Gleeson, 1998). On the
other hand, because of intensive training, viruses such as
Coxsackiea, Echo Virus, Herpes Virus, Corona Virus,
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza, Parainfluenza,
Adreno Virus and Rhino Virus are activated and due to
decreased salvia S-IgA, athletes are exposed for infection
and diseases (e.g., larynx inflammation, fever, muscular
pains, nose obstruction and airway inflammation)
(Weidner, 1994a). In the present study, the saliva S-IgA
laboratory controlled method for young wrestlers was
used. But the other cases of infection affliction were
controlled by a special questionnaire (Gleeson et al., 1999;
Weidner, 1994b). At the end of the first five weeks of
wrestling trainings, the salvia S-IgA concentrations in
the experimental group significantly decreased (39%)
(p = 0.087) compared to that of the control group. In the
experimental group, the saliva S-IgA concentration had a
46% decrease between the resting and end of the 1st 5
weeks of training (p = 0.015). However, there were no
significant differences between the end of the second five
weeks of training and recovery. But in the experimental
group significant differences were observed between
the end of 1st 5 weeks of training and that of the
recovery period (p = 0.07). Therefore, the saliva S-IgA
concentration increased. This difference was also found
between the second five weeks of training and that of
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Res. J. Biol. Sci., 3 (4): 395-400, 2008

decrease of saliva flowing rate. It also caused changes
in mucosal secretary immunoglobulin A of wrestlers
(Mackinnon and Jenkins, 1993; Pyne and Gleeson, 1998;
Tartibian and Moazeni, 2002). Also in this research,
according to training pattern, the wrestlers participated in
training for 4 days in a week and 25% of competition
intensity was determined for them which in turn increased
various competition conditions induced stress levels in
them. Bosch et al. (2003) and Novas et al. (2003) reported
the decreased S-IgA levels and increased URTI in tennis
players due to competitions induced stresses and stimuli.
In the present study, mucosal secretary immunoglobulin
A was examined during 10 weeks of wrestling training at
intensity of 85% HRR and a one week recovery period and
it is likely that the study of other training patterns in
wrestling yield present different results.
The results of this study indicated that the secretary
mucosal immunity system of wrestlers was affected by
training intensity and duration and this caused a decrease
in saliva S-IgA. This change at the end of the first-five
weeks of training was significant. However, at the end of
the second five weeks of training, despite a significant
decrease in the experimental groups immunoglobulin A,
this difference was not significant compared to that of the
control group. At recovery, saliva S-IgA levels returned
to basal level. Considering that this antibody is abundant
in mucoses and according to its vital role in the
prevention of bacterial and viral influence on mucoses
and also its role in the prevention of IgE allergic
responses, it appears that measurement of mucosal IgA
has an important role in examining and preventing upper
respiratory tract diseases of athletes. And according to
wrestlers body weight changes during training period
and its possible effects on mucosal immunity, it is also
suggested that this subject must be taken into
consideration by coaches, athletes, team physicians and
particularly FILA administrators when various weight
categories are determined and compiled. Consequently,
there is no study about wrestlers` mucosal immunity and
further investigations must be carried out.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We express our grateful thanks to Professor Behroz
Nikbin from Tehran State University for his helps and
assistance.
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