title: Immune and hormonal changes following intense military training.
abstract: This study was designed to determine whether the immune and hormonal systems were affected by a 5-day military course following 3 weeks of combat training in a population of 26 male soldiers (mean age, 21 +/- 2 years). The combination of continuous heavy physical activity and sleep deprivation led to energy deficiency. At the beginning of the training program and immediately after the combat course, saliva samples were assayed for secretory immunoglobulin A and plasma samples were assayed for interleukin-6, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, prolactin, catecholamines, glucocorticoids, and testosterone. Secretory immunoglobulin A was lower and circulating interleukin-6 was increased by the end of the course, which was attributed to sympathoadrenergic stimulation. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, prolactin, and testosterone levels fell significantly. These results suggest that prolonged and repeated exercise such as that encountered in a military training program induces immune impairment via a decrease in mucosal immunity and a release of interleukin-6 into the circulation. The impaired secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and prolactin, two immunomodulatory hormones, was thought to be a response to the chronic stressors. Lowered testosterone reflects a general decrease in steroid synthesis as a consequence of the physical and psychological strain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institut de Médecine Aérospatiale du Service de Santé des Armies, BP 73, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, Cedex France.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gomez-Merino
authors.forename: Mounir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chennaoui
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burnat
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drogou
authors.forename: Charles Yannick
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Guezennec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006728:Hormones; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D015850:Interleukin-6; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone