Impact of allostatic load on hormone status in special-forces operators

Abstract

To date, there is limited data on the hormone responses that occur during intensive operational training in U.S. Special Forces Operators (SFO). Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to: (1) quantify hormone profiles of SFO, and (2) examine hormone responses that occur following 5 days of Winter Warfare Training (WWT) in U.S. Army SFO. Blood samples were collected at baseline, immediately pre-WWT, and post-WWT. Reductions in both total and free testosterone were observed from baseline to pre-WWT (p