A reliable indicator of metabolic changes during physical activity is body fluids acidosis. In practice, blood lactate levels have been used most often. The aim of this study is to examine if saliva, which is sampled quickly and painlessly, can replace blood whose sampling is invasive and unpleasant. Running on treadmill with progressive load has been applied on a sample of 41 young men (13 athletes and 28 students). After every 3 minutes and during recovery blood lactates and pH of the saliva were measured. The students reached maximum values of blood lactates earlier than the athletes. Saliva pH in both groups changed significantly only during the highest running speed. These changes emerged later than blood lactates changes. Blood lactates remained significantly increased until the end of recovery, while saliva pH returned to the initial values. Results of this study show that saliva pH is not reliable predictor of blood lactates and cannot be used to track metabolic changes during physical activity.
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