Effect of a 12-hour mission on GH, IGF-I, testosterone and cortisol in elite soldiers

Abstract The Special Operations Battalion of Rio de Janeiro (BOPE-RJ) carries out high-risk missions in an urban warfare environment, such as exposure to acute stress situations, such as shootings and confrontations with criminals, placing high physical and psychological demands on its members. This study investigated the kinetics of the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF-I) axis and the serum levels of testosterone and cortisol in soldiers belonging to BOPE-RJ. It is a cross-sectional study with 75 volunteers divided into two groups: Control Group (CG) and Mission Group (MG). Blood was collected once from both groups, between 8 and 9 a.m., in a specially equipped room at the military training centre. The collection respected the volunteers’ real work routine and was performed when the groups changed shifts. Contrary to expectations, no changes were found between the groups for the indicators analysed, except for cortisol, where there was a statistically significant difference. The mean cortisol levels were 10.86 μg/dl for CG and 12.27 μg/dl for MG. These findings have significant implications for BOPE-RJ and similar units. While they suggest that these soldiers may be able to carry out high-risk missions safely and effectively even under stressful conditions, the potential long-term consequences of chronic stress exposure on their physical and mental health require further investigation.