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Physical stress affects the immune system, activates the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) subsystems of autonomic nervous system (ANS), and increases the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). The specific response of the major regulatory systems depends on the human functional state. Saliva is a unique diagnostic fluid, the composition of which immediately reflects the SNS, PNS, HPA and immune system response to stress. A new method of saliva biomarker determination by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy has been developed to monitor the exercise induced metabolic changes in saliva from male endurance athletes. The method has been tested using a group of professional athletes by analysing saliva samples collected before and after the exercise, and the saliva composition monitoring by ATR FTIR spectroscopy was shown to be suitable for real-time checking of response to stress.

We developed a method of rapid assay for biochemical properties of the saliva based on attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. This method allows evaluating saliva composition within 5 min without sample preparation; 10 microl sample is enough for the analysis. The concentration of total protein, glucose, secretory immunoglobulin A, urea, amylase, cortisol, inorganic phosphate in the saliva can also be measured. Precision and reproducibility of the evaluated parameters are comparable to those obtained by routine clinical analysis.