J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 11, Number 2, February 2019, pages 114-120

Assessment of Salivary Nitric Oxide Levels in Elite University Athletes in Japan: Findings From a Cross Sectional Study Design

Figure 1. Univariate correlations between the levels of salivary NO and d-ROM (a) and BAP (b). NO: nitric oxide; d-ROM: derived reactive oxygen metabolites; BAP: biological antioxidant potential.

Figure 2. Salivary NO levels in the asthma (black) and non-asthma groups (White). Data are presented as mean ± SE of the mean. NO: nitric oxide.

Figure 3. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the validation data. The ROC curve of the salivary NO level is higher for asthma. The sensitivity, specificity, AUC value, and cut-off salivary NO levels are shown. NO: nitric oxide; AUC: area under the curve.

**Table 1.** Characteristics of the Study Subjects and the Sex-Related Differences
Variable	Total (n = 250)	Males (n = 151)	Females (n = 99)	P
Data are shown as the mean ± SD of the mean. *P < 0.05, versus males. NO: nitric oxide; d-ROM: derived reactive oxygen metabolites; BAP: biological antioxidant potential.
Age (years)	20 ± 1	20 ± 1	20 ± 1	0.53
Experiences (years)	11 ± 3	11 ± 3	11 ± 3	0.292
Height (cm)	171 ± 9	175 ± 6	164 ± 7^*	0.000
Weight (kg)	66 ± 11	71 ± 10	59 ± 7^*	0.000
Body mass index (kg/m²)	22 ± 3	22 ± 3	22 ± 2^*	0.014
Body fat mass (kg)	13 ± 14	14 ± 18	13 ± 5^*	0.000
Skeletal muscle mass (kg)	31 ± 6	34 ± 4	26 ± 3^*	0.000
Fat free mass (kg)	54 ± 10	60 ± 8	46 ± 6^*	0.000
Percent body fat (%)	16 ± 6	12 ± 4	21 ± 4^*	0.000
Salivary NO levels (µmol/L)	380 ± 198	383 ± 210	376 ± 179	0.821
Salivary flow rate (mL/min)	0.662 ± 0.273	0.647 ± 0.277	0.685 ± 0.265	0.103
d-ROM test (U.CARR)	278 ± 43	271 ± 42	289 ± 42^*	0.001
BAP test (µmol/L)	2,136 ± 189	2,154 ± 143	2,108 ± 241^*	0.027
d-ROM / BAP ratio	7.86 ± 1.34	8.13 ± 1.27	7.44 ± 1.34^*	0.000
Fatigue scale (mm)	40 ± 21	37 ± 22	45 ± 18^*	0.003
Performance scale (mm)	53 ± 19	56 ± 19	48 ± 18^*	0.001

Table 1. Characteristics of the Study Subjects and the Sex-Related Differences

Variable

Total (n = 250)

Males (n = 151)

Females (n = 99)

Data are shown as the mean ± SD of the mean. *P < 0.05, versus males. NO: nitric oxide; d-ROM: derived reactive oxygen metabolites; BAP: biological antioxidant potential.

Age (years)

20 ± 1

0.53

Experiences (years)

11 ± 3

0.292

Height (cm)

171 ± 9

175 ± 6

164 ± 7^*

0.000

Weight (kg)

66 ± 11

71 ± 10

59 ± 7^*

0.000

Body mass index (kg/m²)

22 ± 3

22 ± 2^*

0.014

Body fat mass (kg)

13 ± 14

14 ± 18

13 ± 5^*

0.000

Skeletal muscle mass (kg)

31 ± 6

34 ± 4

26 ± 3^*

0.000

Fat free mass (kg)

54 ± 10

60 ± 8

46 ± 6^*

0.000

Percent body fat (%)

16 ± 6

12 ± 4

21 ± 4^*

0.000

Salivary NO levels (µmol/L)

380 ± 198

383 ± 210

376 ± 179

0.821

Salivary flow rate (mL/min)

0.662 ± 0.273

0.647 ± 0.277

0.685 ± 0.265

0.103

d-ROM test (U.CARR)

278 ± 43

271 ± 42

289 ± 42^*

0.001

BAP test (µmol/L)

2,136 ± 189

2,154 ± 143

2,108 ± 241^*

0.027

d-ROM / BAP ratio

7.86 ± 1.34

8.13 ± 1.27

7.44 ± 1.34^*

0.000

Fatigue scale (mm)

40 ± 21

37 ± 22

45 ± 18^*

0.003

Performance scale (mm)

53 ± 19

56 ± 19

48 ± 18^*

0.001

**Table 2.** Salivary NO Levels of the Subjects for Each Sport Sub-Groups
Athletic events	Males	Females
Data are shown as the mean ± SD of the mean and expressed in µmol/L. T: the numbers of total athletes; M: the numbers of male athletes; F: the numbers of female athletes. Athletics including jump, sprint, middle, long and combined. Aquatics include swimming and water polo.
Football (T = 32; M = 25, F = 7)	448 ± 48	337 ± 73
Handball (T = 25; M = 13, F = 12)	277 ± 31	433 ± 53
Basketball (T = 10; M = 0, F = 10)	No data	327 ± 49
Volleyball (T = 22; M = 13, F = 9)	384 ± 65	346 ± 59
Athletics (T = 73; M = 47, F = 26)	400 ± 34	379 ± 40
Kendo (T = 18; M = 8, F = 10)	221 ± 22	421 ± 45
Judo (T = 17; M = 12, F = 5)	355 ± 38	276 ± 83
Aquatics (T = 33; M = 23, F = 10)	448 ± 39	406 ± 57
Tennis (T = 10; M = 3, F = 7)	249 ± 17	377 ± 73
Badminton (T = 10; M = 7, F =3)	312 ± 73	370 ± 78

Table 2. Salivary NO Levels of the Subjects for Each Sport Sub-Groups

Athletic events

Males

Females

Data are shown as the mean ± SD of the mean and expressed in µmol/L. T: the numbers of total athletes; M: the numbers of male athletes; F: the numbers of female athletes. Athletics including jump, sprint, middle, long and combined. Aquatics include swimming and water polo.

Football (T = 32; M = 25, F = 7)

448 ± 48

337 ± 73

Handball (T = 25; M = 13, F = 12)

277 ± 31

433 ± 53

Basketball (T = 10; M = 0, F = 10)

No data

327 ± 49

Volleyball (T = 22; M = 13, F = 9)

384 ± 65

346 ± 59

Athletics (T = 73; M = 47, F = 26)

400 ± 34

379 ± 40

Kendo (T = 18; M = 8, F = 10)

221 ± 22

421 ± 45

Judo (T = 17; M = 12, F = 5)

355 ± 38

276 ± 83

Aquatics (T = 33; M = 23, F = 10)

448 ± 39

406 ± 57

Tennis (T = 10; M = 3, F = 7)

249 ± 17

377 ± 73

Badminton (T = 10; M = 7, F =3)

312 ± 73

370 ± 78

**Table 3.** Detailed Information of Medical/Health Disorders Existing in Study Subjects
Disease	n = 26	Current symptoms	Medication
Non-allergy diseases: anemia, arrhythmia, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis, etc.
Asthma	n = 9	n = 1	n = 8	n = 1
Food and Drug	n = 3	n = 1	n = 2	n = 0
Rhinitis	n = 3	n = 3	n = 0	n = 2
Dermatitis	n = 3	n = 3	n = 0	n = 1
Non-allergy diseases	n = 8	n = 2	n = 6	n = 2

Table 3. Detailed Information of Medical/Health Disorders Existing in Study Subjects

Disease

n = 26

Current symptoms

Medication

Yes

Non-allergy diseases: anemia, arrhythmia, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis, etc.

Asthma

n = 9

n = 1

n = 8

n = 1

Food and Drug

n = 3

n = 1

n = 2

n = 0

Rhinitis

n = 3

n = 0

n = 2

Dermatitis

n = 3

n = 0

n = 1

Non-allergy diseases

n = 8

n = 2

n = 6

n = 2