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Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Woods, Dr Richard Quinton
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Military training has been associated with changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis consistent with central hypogonadism. Often such changes have been associated with body mass loss, though sleep deprivation and other psychological stress may also contribute. The effects of deployment in a combat zone on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in military personnel are not known. The objective was to investigate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in male military personnel deployed in Afghanistan. Eighty-nine Royal Marines were investigated pre-deployment, following 3months in Afghanistan and following 2weeks mid-tour leave. Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione (AD) and insulin were assayed and body mass recorded. The results showed that body mass (kg) dropped from 83.2 +/- 9.2 to 79.2 +/- 8.2kg during the first 3months of deployment (p<0.001). Total testosterone did not change, but SHBG increased (30.7 +/- 9.7 vs. 42.3 +/- 14.1nmol/L, p<0.001), resulting in a significant (p<0.001) fall in calculated free testosterone (435.2 +/- 138 vs. 375.1 +/- 98pmol/L). Luteinising hormone and FSH increased by 14.3% (p<0.001) and 4.9% (p=0.003) respectively. Free testosterone, SHBG, LH and FSH returned to baseline following 2weeks of mid-tour leave. Androstenedione (AD) decreased by 14.5% (p=0.024), and insulin decreased by 26% (p=0.039), over the course of deployment. In this study of lean Royal Marines, free testosterone decreased during operational deployment to Afghanistan. There was no evidence to suggest major stress-induced central hypogonadism. We postulate that reduced body mass, accompanied by a decrease in insulin and AD synthesis, may have contributed to an elevated SHBG, leading to a decrease in free testosterone.
Author(s): Hill NE, Woods DR, Delves SK, Murphy KG, Davison AS, Brett SJ, Quinton R, Turner S, Stacey M, Allsopp AJ, Fallowfield JL
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Andrology
Year: 2015
Volume: 3
Issue: 2
Pages: 293-297
Print publication date: 01/03/2015
Online publication date: 23/01/2015
Acceptance date: 31/10/2014
ISSN (print): 2047-2919
ISSN (electronic): 2047-2927
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/andr.308
DOI: 10.1111/andr.308
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