SALIVA AND MARATHON RUNNING

The aim of this study was to follow changes in saliva and serum after strenous prolonged exercise. Twenty individuals, three women and 17 me n, 24-62 years old, well-trained but not at elite level, participating in the Stockholm Marathon, were selected for the study. Two of the su bjects broke the race after 20 km. Three samples of saliva were collec ted, i.e. (i) just before the race, (ii) directly after the race, and (iii) 1 h after the race. Paraffin-simulated whole saliva, resting non -stimulated whole saliva and citric acid-stimulated parotid saliva wer e investigated. In all three types of saliva, there was a decrease in secretion rate and only 14 of the 18 participants could produce restin g non-stimulated whole saliva directly after the race. The salivary co ncentration of chloride, phosphate, potassium, amylase, hexosamine, si alic acid and salivary peroxidase were significantly higher after than before the race. There were no significant changes in salivary pH and buffer capacity. The total protein concentration was increased in all types of saliva after the race. To conclude, there were several chang es in the saliva composition just after the marathon, but most of the values were back to baseline after 1 h of rest. However, the values fo r sodium, calcium, phosphate, salivary peroxidase, amylase and salivar y IgA were still elevated 1 h after the race.