ArticleFrontiers in physiology2025
Can a weekend of controlled hypoxia restore hormonal balance? A novel approach to stress recovery in aviation professionals.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Aviation professionals experience chronic stress due to prolonged work hours, irregular schedules, and exposure to altitude-related physiological challenges, leading to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Controlled hypoxia has been proposed as a potential strategy for modulating stress responses and enhancing recovery. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a weekend of controlled normobaric hypoxia on key hormonal markers, including cortisol, prolactin, testosterone, and DHEA-S, in pilots and flight attendants. Methods: A within-subject experimental design was used with 10 participants (6 pilots, 4 flight attendants) exposed to two 12-hour sessions of normobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude: 3,500-4,000 m) during their designated rest period. Blood samples were collected at three-time points: baseline, pre-hypoxia, and post-hypoxia, and analyzed for hormonal changes. Results: Prolactin levels significantly increased post-intervention, indicating a neuroendocrine stress response. Cortisol levels showed a moderate decrease, suggesting potential stress adaptation. Testosterone levels significantly increased in both groups, supporting anabolic recovery mechanisms. DHEA-S exhibited a slight but non-significant increase, while the DHEA-S/cortisol ratio improved, suggesting enhanced stress resilience. Conclusion: Short-term exposure to normobaric hypoxia induced significant hormonal adaptations, potentially aiding stress recovery in aviation professionals. These findings highlight the potential of controlled hypoxia as a non-pharmacological intervention for stress management in high-demand professions. Further research is needed to refine hypoxia protocols and assess long-term effects.
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