The effect of basketball competition on resting level of Immunoglobulins in elite female basketball players

This research aimed to investigate the effect of one period of first division basketball competition on some immune system factors in elite female basketball players. For this reason, 20 basketball players with average age of 23 ±3 years, weight: 62.1± 9.50 kg, height:167.5 ± 5.04 cm, BMI:22.03 ± 2.09 kg/m2 and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max): 41.70 ± 11.50 ml.kg.min were examined. Subjects were divided experimental group(10 selected players who attended actively as main individuals in league competitions) and control groups(10 first division basketball players who didn’t participate in competitions but continue to exercise 5 days a week for 1.5 h/d). Competitions program was as follow: in first week 3 competitions and after one week interruption, in third week 4 competition was carried out alternatively. Twenty four hours before first competition and 24 h after last competition blood sample was taken for measuring serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) by using Neflometery method. Data analysis was done by dependent t- test and independent t-test for assessing mean changes in and between groups, respectively. Results showed that one period of first division basketball competition leads to significant increase in resting levels of serum IgA and IgG of elite basketball players while increase in IgM was not significant. Overall, it appear that immune system of basketball players was affected by physical and psychological stress at the end of competitions and this may Cause athletes catching upper respiratory tract infections.