Utilização de marcadores salivares para avaliação e controle do desempenho esportivo em atletas de futebol

Abstract

The development of a physical training program depends on the control of different biochemical parameters, which relates to factors such as the intensity of exercise, immunity and the redox state. In addition, recent studies have also begun to point out the relevance of executive function as a determinant component for achieving a high sports performance level. Moreover, few studies have been conducted in athletes until now using these markers in saliva along with cognitive function tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of biochemical analyzes in saliva for evaluation of physical and its relation with cognitive function in soccer players. Thirty-two athletes were submitted to Bangsbo Sprint Test (BST) for evaluation of physical capacity and 48 hours later the Stroop test (TSt) and Tower of Hanoi (ToH) to assess executive function. Lactate levels in saliva increased when compared to Pre-BST values (6.9-fold; p <0.05). The total salivary protein followed the same pattern with increase observed after BST (+ 34%; p <0.05). The concentrations of salivary immunoglobulin-A (sIgA) showed no significant difference after the BST. GSH and TBARs levels in the saliva showed no significant difference, while the uric acid concentration decreased after BST (-26%, p <0.05). Interestingly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased salivary (3.6-fold; p <0.05), while the levels of catalase (CAT) in saliva did not significantlychange. There was no correlation of performance parameters analyzed with TSt, however athletes at higher percentile (P90) of salivary cortisol (11.2 ng/ mL to 32.7 ng/ ml) showed longer times of ToH resolution. The 2D electrophoresis showed that only 215 spots appeared in the Pre-BST point, 63 spots increased and 108 decreased their expression after the BST. In conclusion, the saliva is sensitive to changes induced by BST. The maintainance of salivary TBARs after BST seems to occur in response of uric acid decrement, which presents expressive antioxidant effects. In this sense the increased post-exercise SOD levels in saliva seems to act as a second-line antioxidante defense against BST-induced ROS production. Furthermore, the results of executive function tests indicate that elevated levels of salivary cortisol have a deleterious effect on the settling time of ToH regarding to the working memory, the planning and troubleshooting. However, TSt which involves selective attention and information processing speed does not seem to be affected by cortisol levels at rest. Finally, the 2D electrophoresis showed that the BST induced differential expression of proteins, since additional proteins were not detected after the test, and dozens of proteins were up-regulated and down-regulated after BST. These data suggest that after a proteomic analysis, these proteins may be candidates for physical performance and/ or cognitive markers in future studies