The Immunological and Hormonal Responses to Competitive Match-Play in Elite Soccer Players

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and salivary cortisol (s-Cort) responses to competitive matches in elite male soccer players. Data were collected for 19 players (mean ± SD, age: 26 ± 4 years; weight: 80.5 ± 8.1 kg; height: 1.83 ± 0.07 m; body-fat 10.8 ± 0.7%) from a Russian Premier League team throughout a 6-week period during the 2021–2022 season. Physical match loads were measured through an optical tracking system. s-IgA and s-Cort were assessed one day before each match (MD − 1), 60-min before kick-off, 30-min post-match, and 48-h post-match (MD + 2). At 60-min before kick-off, s-IgA values were lower than at MD − 1 (90% CI difference 15.7–71.3 μg/mL). Additionally, compared to 60-min before kick-off, s-IgA was higher at 30-min post-match (90% CI difference 1.8–57.8 μg/mL) and at MD + 2 (90% CI difference 5.4–60.5 μg/mL). At 30-min post-match, s-Cort was higher than at 60-min before kick-off (90% CI difference 4.84–7.86 ng/mL), while on MD + 2 s-Cort was higher than at 60-min before kick-off (90% CI difference 0.76–3.72 ng/mL). Mixed model regressions revealed that longer playing time and total distance covered, and higher number of high-intensity accelerations, involved smaller s-IgA differences between 30-min post-match and 60-min before kick-off, and between 60-min before kick-off and MD + 2. Additionally, greater high-intensity and sprint distances, and a higher number of high-intensity and maximal accelerations, involved smaller s-Cort differences between 60-min before kick-off and MD + 2. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that using salivary monitoring combined with match load may be a useful tool to monitor individual mucosal immunity and hormonal responses to match-play and the subsequent recovery periods in elite soccer players.