Effects of carbohydrate beverage ingestion on the salivary IgA response to intermittent exercise in the heat

The purpose of this study was to establish if provision of CHO altered the mucosal immune and salivary cortisol responses to intermittent exercise in the heat. In a double-blind design, 10 males undertook soccer-specific intermittent exercise on a motorized treadmill on 2 occasions, each over 90 min and separated by 1 week. During CHO and placebo trials, subjects were given either a carbohydrate solution (3 ml · kg (-1) body weight) or placebo drink, 5 min before the commencement of exercise, at 15, 30 min, at half time, 60 and 75 min into exercise. Salivary flow rate increased throughout the placebo trial and decreased throughout the CHO treatment; the difference between conditions neared statistical significance (P=0.055). Neither s-IgA concentration nor s-IgA to osmolality ratio was affected by 2 conditions or differed at any time-point post-exercise (P>0.05). The s-IgA secretion rate increased, s-IgA to protein ratio decreased post-exercise and salivary cortisol decreased 24 h post-exercise (P<0.05) compared to pre-exercise. Carbohydrate supplementation whilst exercising in the heat, does not influence rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, salivary flow rate, s-IgA concentration, s-IgA secretion rate, s-IgA to osmolality ratio or s-IgA to protein ratio and salivary cortisol but heart rate was increased.