32 postmenopausal women were randomized to a 16-week home-based walking program or control group. Before and after the intervention, each subject completed a graded maximal treadmill test to establish VO2max and resting saliva was collected to determine levels of salivary immunoglobulin A. The 16-week walking program resulted in an increase in VO2max (+10.4%; p < 0.01). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a marked increase in the resting secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin A (+37.4%; p < 0.05) in the exercise group following training. Independent of study group, both before and after the intervention, the secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin A (-32.3%) and saliva flow rate (-29.3%) were reduced following acute maximal exercise (p < 0.05). Weekly upper respiratory symptomatology logs revealed that the number of incidences of upper respiratory symptoms throughout the intervention period were the same and the duration per incidence (control 5.3 +/- 1.5 days; exercise 6.3 +/- 2.2 days) were similar between study groups. These findings in postmenopausal women support that the secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin A and saliva flow rate are reduced immediately following maximal exercise. Moreover, a 16-week moderate intense walking program can increase the secretion of salivary immunoglobulin A without affecting upper respiratory symptomatology.

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