The Department of Human Movement have discovered that in all athletes that suffer OTS, there is a substantial decrease in the level of Glutemene in the body. Glutemene is manufactured by the skeletal muscles and is also very common as it is an amino acid which is the building block for proteins. It is also a fuel source for the immune system. With no Glutemene in the body, the immune system can't produce the infection killing White Blood Cells. Which is why the athlete is so open to colds and virus's.
Scientists also believe that there may be a link between the work output of an athlete versus the production of Glutemene being impaired. This study is currently being undertaken also at the Human Movement department at the University of Western Australia. Soon enough athletes will be able to have their own blood testing unit to determine their Glutemene levels and decide on whether training levels should be reduced to prevent the Over Trained Syndrome.
Information supplied from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation program "Quantum".
For more information on The Over Trained Syndrome, check out Dr. Jenkins' Sports Medicine Page.