The effect of official competition on blood leucocyte subsets and serum immunoglobulins in male karateka

Document Type : original article

Authors

Department of Exercise Physiology, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: Psychological stresses induced by competition, can cause immune system alternations, which predisposes the athletes to infectious diseases more than common exercises. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of official sports competition on leucocyte, and subsets counts, immunoglobulin A (IgA), G (IgG), and cortisol levels in male karatekas.
Methods: Ten male karatekas (aged: 22.9±2.6 yr, height 176.4±8.3 cm, and body mass index 21.2±1.5 kg/m2), acceded to final competition of Ilam province, were selected. Blood samples were collected before, immediately and 2 hours after the competition to measure the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophil’s counts and IgA, IgG and cortisol levels.
Results: The leucocyte (P=0.001), lymphocyte (P=0.001), and monocyte (P=0.003) counts were significantly increased immediately after the competition but returned to baseline 2h after the competition. Neutrophil and eosinophil counts did not change immediately and 2h after the competition (P>0.05). The serum levels of IgA (P=0.037) and IgG (P=0.04) were decreased significantly immediately after the competition and returned to baseline 2h after the competition. Also, the serum cortisol level was increased significantly immediately after the competition (P=0.0001) but decreased 2h later, compared to before (P=0.01) and immediately (P=0.001) after the competition results.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, official competition can cause transient depression on humoral immunity in young male karatekas. It seems that 2h rest after the competition is sufficient for the recovery of leucocyte subset counts and immunoglobulin changing induced by competitions.

Keywords


1. Gleeson M. Immune function in sport and exercise. 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; Edinburgh, UK. 2006: 33-65.
2. Mackinnon LT. Chronic exercise training effects on immune function. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000; 32: 369-376.
3. Walsh NP, Gleeson M, Shephard RJ, Gleeson M, Woods JA, Bishop NC, Fleshner M, Green C, Pedersen BK, Goetz LH, Rogers CG, Northoff H, Abassi A, Simon P. Position statement. Part one: Immune function and exercise. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2011; 17: 6-63.
4. Avloniti AA, Douda HT, Tokmakidis SP, Kortsaris AH, Papadopoulou EG, Spanoudakis EG. Acute effects of soccer training on white blood cell count in elite female players. Inter J Sports Physiology Performance. 2007; 2(3): 239-249.
5. Nieman DC, Henson DA, Austin MD, Brown VA. Immune response to a 30-minute walk. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005; 37(1): 57-62.
6. Morshedi S, Nikbakht H, Ebrahim KH, Khaje Salehani M. Effect of offical soccer competition on concentration of salivary cortisol, testosterone and immunoglubulin A in players men. Exerc Physiol. 2011; 15: 83-96. [In Persian]
7. Gaeeni AA, Ashtyan S, Ravasi AA. Effect of a period semi-offical karate competition on some immune system indexs in elite karateka men. Olympic J. 2009; 3(47): 117-125. [In Persian].
8. Mortatti AL, Moreira A, Aoki MS, Crewther BT, Castagna C, de Arruda AFS, Filho JM. Effect of competition on salivary cortisol, immunoglobulin A, and upper respiratory tract infections in elite young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(5): 1396-1401.
9. Moreira A, Arsati F, de Oliveira Lima-Arsati YB, de Freitas CG, de Arau ´jo VC. Salivary immunoglobulin a responses in professional top-level futsal players. J Strength Cond Res. 2011; 25(7): 1932-1936.
10. Moreira A, Franchini E, Freitas CG, Arruda AFS, Moura NR, Costa EC, Aoki MS. Salivary cortisol and immunoglobulin A responses to simulated and official Jiu-Jitsu matches. J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(8): 2185-2191.
11. Moreira A, Arsati F, Cury PR, Franciscon C, Oliveira PR, Arau´jo VC. Salivary immunoglobulin A responses to a match in top- level Brazilian soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2009; 23: 1968-1973.
12. Dill DB, Costill DL. Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. J Appl Physiol. 1974; 37: 247-248.
13. Khajeie R, Asghari E, Arazi H, Kari M, Seyyed Ahmadi M. Description of the changes of some humoral immune variables immediately and 24 hours after exercise during the preparation exercises for rock climbing. Quartry J Sabzevar Univer Med Sci. 2012; 19(2): 136-145.
14. [In Persian]Piraki P, Ebrahim Kh, Karimi F, Anissian A. Effect of active and passive recovery on athletes' white blood cell count. Journal of Qom University Medical Science. 2008; 2(2): 15-21. [In Persian]
15. Jafari H, Taheri Kalani AH, Safarzade A. The effects of repeated sessions of exercise on immune cells and cortisol level in female athletes. J Ilam Univer Med Sci. 2014; 21(1): 71-76. [In Persian]
16. Arazi H, Damirchi A, Babaie P. Effect one and two sessions concurrent continues-strength exercise training on subgroups of blood leucocytes in athletic men. Harekat J. 2009; 36: 107-128. [In Persian]
17. Kakanis MW, Peake J, Brenu EW, Simmonds M, Gray B, Hooper SL, Marshall-Gradisnik SM. The open window of susceptibility to infection after acute exercise in healthy young male elite athletes. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2010; 16: 119-137.
18. Pacque PF, Booth C, Ball J, Dwyer DB. The effect of an ultra-endurance running race on mucosal and humoral immune function. J Sports Med Phy Fitness. 2007; 47(4): 496-501.
19. Tartibian B, Moazeni SM, Gharakhanlo R. Effect of wrestling training in pre and in-season competition on immune cells and serum cortisol in young wrestlers. Harekat J. 2002; 12: 105-133. [In Persian]
20. Bahari Malordi M, Mirdar SH, Dabidiroshan V, Safiri H. The acute effect of single and two sessions exercise exhusive on some immune index in active girls. Olympic J. 2008; 2(42): 39-48. [In Persian]
21. Asadbakhti A, Choobineh C, Kordi MR. Effect of single simulated exercise soccer on concentration of salivary IgA, IgG, IgM and cortisol in soccer players. Biol Exerc Sci. 2011; 15: 83-96. [In Persian]
22. Babaei P, Damirchi A, Assarzadeh M. The effects of a single maximal aerobic training on serum IgG and IgA. J Guilan Univer Med Sci. 2003; 12(46): 1-6. [In Persian]
23. Tartibian B, Moazeni SM. Effect of wrestling training in pre and in-season competition on immune humoral in young wrestlers. Olympic J. 2002; 3(22): 105-114. [In Persian]
24. Karacabey K, Saygin O, Ozmerdivenli R, Zorba E, Godekmerdan A, Bulut V. The effects of exercise on the immune system and stress hormones in sportswomen. Neuro Endocrin Lett. 2005; 26(4): 361-366.
25. Hill EE, Zack E, Battaglini C, Viru M, Viru A, Hackney AC. Exercise and circulating cortisol levels: the intensity threshold effect. J Endocrin Invest. 2008; 31(7): 587-591.
26. Viru A, Hackney AC, Janson T, Karelson K, Viru A. Characterization of the cortisol response to incremental exercise in physically active young men. Acta Physiol Hung. 2008; 95(2): 219-227.
27. Kraemer WJ, Rogol AD. The endocrine system in sports and exercise. Blackwell Publishing Ltd: 2005; 117-149.
  • Receive Date: 23 September 2015
  • Revise Date: 20 October 2021
  • Accept Date: 31 December 2020
  • First Publish Date: 31 December 2020
  • Publish Date: 21 January 2019