Can testosterone boost combat performance?

[Jinzang]

[FONT=&quot]The Defense Department is studying whether a boost of testosterone can keep military muscle and brains operating in top form during long periods of combat. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]When troops are engaged in prolonged physical activity like war and contingency operations, they are unable to consume the calories needed to sustain high physical and mental function, according to medical researchers. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The calorie deficit -- sometimes as much as 50 percent to 60 percent below the needed amount -- can result in muscle loss, fatigue, cognitive decline and, in men, a drop in testosterone, leaving them vulnerable to injury, illness, wounds or death. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Scientists at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Facility and the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine are conducting a study to see if maintaining normal testosterone levels during periods of calorie restriction will improve performance, or at least minimize negative consequences.

Full article at Military Times, September 23
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[Re-Ride]

Just like the gov to abuse medicine for its gain while prohibiting or restricting legitimate medical use for the citizenry. Don't believe for a minute that this study is limited to testosterone as the anabolic.

 

[Vince Carter]

The military is in every way a microcosm of society, suffers from all the usual societal ills. One of my Brothers Ive encouiraged to get tested, I think VA should be screening for Low T in Veterans. Now active duty, I would imagine that the desired effects and knowing military service myself I would imagine they're talking mega-dosing, 200/300/400mg or more at one-time.

 

[Jinzang]

I wonder how they plan to dispense the testosterone. I imagine that it would be difficult to maintain the sterility needed for injection under combat conditions. Perhaps a large dose of a slow acting testosterone before the mission starts.

 

[Vince Carter]

I wonder how they plan to dispense the testosterone. I imagine that it would be difficult to maintain the sterility needed for injection under combat conditions. Perhaps a large dose of a slow acting testosterone before the mission starts.

I can't seem them dispensing for self injections, they treat us like little children, it'd have to be a pre-mission admin.

 

[CPTWilly]

I can't seem them dispensing for self injections, they treat us like little children, it'd have to be a pre-mission admin.

Probably pellets. They can be administered before mission and sustained for months. The problem is then keeping the functionality of the testicles. If they aren't going to send in needles for injection, they aren't going to send in hcg.

 

[Vince Carter]

Probably pellets. They can be administered before mission and sustained for months. The problem is then keeping the functionality of the testicles. If they aren't going to send in needles for injection, they aren't going to send in hcg.

ya it's more complicated than shooting some T, or pellets (or cream, too) I figured an injection of 2/3/400mg 24hrs prior to a mission would get a pretty high serum T level for a few days and then you wouldn't need to deal with HCG, or any other shutdown.

 

[Weasel]

Knowing the Army, They'd be sure to Fack something like this up for sure.

 

[CPTWilly]

ya it's more complicated than shooting some T, or pellets (or cream, too) I figured an injection of 2/3/400mg 24hrs prior to a mission would get a pretty high serum T level for a few days and then you wouldn't need to deal with HCG, or any other shutdown.

I guess if it is done at a base camp and prior to a short mission it could work, but if they are talking about existing on diminished sleep and calories, I assumed they were referring to units that are more "in the field" for an extended period of time and would not have ready access to a medical facility. They might have a medic, but is he going to carry enough testosterone for the whole unit?

I hope they take their time with testing. I would hate to think they might damage the HPTA of our young soldiers "for the good of the Army."

 

[Weasel]

I hope they take their time with testing. I would hate to think they might damage the HPTA of our young soldiers "for the good of the Army."

Pretty sure they are already doing that in one way or another. Anthrax vaccines and whatever the other "undisclosed solution" lines on my vaccine medical record actually is.....

 

[Vince Carter]

I could def see some smaller units like SF being able to manage something like that than say anything about Platoon size would be much tougher to administer individually though I've heard of plenty of recreational T usage downrange on an individual basis.