Backgorund: Recent evidence has showed that serum or salivary values of a-amylase predict endurance running performance. In this study we investigate whether serum a-amylase concentration may be associated with training status during a competitive season and after a detraining period in professional soccer players. Methods: The study population consisted in 15 male professional soccer players from an Italian major league team (age [mean±SD] 27±5 years, weight 76.9±4.1 kg, height 1.82±0.05 m). Serum a-amylase levels were measured 3 times during the last part of a competitive season (January, March and May) and just before preseason training (July). Results: Metabolic and cardiovascular fitness of soccer players was improved during the last part of the season. The levels of a-amylase did not change significantly throughout the study period (?2=7.331, P=0.062), nor they were found to be associated with variation of physical fitness and training status. Conclusions: The a-amylase fluctuations throughout a competitive season and after vacation time were meaningless in professional soccer players. No significant associations with physical fitness variations could be observed. These results suggest that a-amylase concentration may be a useful parameter for identifying individual inclination to endurance exercise, but not for predicting actual training status.
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