Effect of competition on salivary alpha-amylase in taekwondo athletes

Objectives. - Sports competitions are one of the challenges that lead to increased stress and impaired performance. Therefore, studies to measure and control stress in this group of people can help improve their overall performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of competition on salivary alpha-amylase levels in taekwondo athletes. Equipment and methods. - The study was conducted on 20 taekwondo male athletes in the Taekwondo Premier League, and their salivary alpha-amylase was measured in five stages before and after competitions. Also, a sports stress questionnaire was completed for each person. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare the means of alpha-amylase. The relationship between alpha-amylase and stress score was also analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results. - The highest mean level of alpha-amylase was observed in the third stage of measurement immediately after competitions (282.5 +/- 29.2 U/mL). The lowest mean was observed in the fifth stage, one day after competitions (102.2 +/- 8.9 U/mL). The results of repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the difference between these measurement steps was statistically significant. Also, the correlation coefficient between the alpha-amylase level and stress score was 0.916, which was significant (P < 0.001). The study of the mean stress score in the winners and losers also showed that the mean stress score in the winners was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Conclusion. - According to the present study results, increased stress leads to impaired performance in athletes. One of the consequences is increased salivary alpha-amylase levels. Therefore, reducing stress can decrease alpha-amylase levels, ultimately improving oral health outcomes in these individuals.