Introduction

The metabolomic profiles of Soldiers entering the U.S. Special Forces Assessment and Selection course (SFAS) have not been evaluated.

Objectives

To compare pre-SFAS blood metabolomes of Soldiers selected during SFAS versus those not selected, and explore the relationships between the metabolome, physical performance, and diet quality.

Methods

Fasted blood samples and food frequency questionnaires were collected from 761 Soldiers prior to entering SFAS to assess metabolomic profiles and diet quality, respectively. Physical performance was assessed throughout SFAS.

Results

Between-group differences (False Discovery Rate < 0.05) in 108 metabolites were detected. Selected candidates had higher levels of compounds within xenobiotic, pentose phosphate, and corticosteroid metabolic pathways, while non-selected candidates had higher levels of compounds potentially indicative of oxidative stress (i.e., sphingomyelins, acylcarnitines, glutathione, amino acids). Multiple compounds higher in non-selected versus selected candidates included: 1-carboxyethylphenylalanine; 4-hydroxy-nonenal-glutathione; α-hydroxyisocaproate; hexanoylcarnitine; sphingomyelin and were associated with lower diet quality and worse physical performance. 

Conclusion

Candidates selected during SFAS had higher pre-SFAS levels of circulating metabolites that were associated with resistance to oxidative stress, higher physical performance and higher diet quality. In contrast, non-selected candidates had higher levels of metabolites potentially indicating elevated oxidative stress. These findings indicate that Soldiers who were selected for continued Special Forces training enter the SFAS course with metabolites associated with healthier diets and better physical performance. Additionally, the non-selected candidates had higher levels of metabolites that may indicate elevated oxidative stress, which could result from poor nutrition, non-functional overreaching/overtraining, or incomplete recovery from previous physical activity.

中文翻译：

---

氧化应激、饮食和运动的生物标志物可区分被选中和未被选中参加特种部队训练的士兵

介绍

尚未评估进入美国特种部队评估和选拔课程 (SFAS) 的士兵的代谢组学概况。

目标

比较在 SFAS 期间选择的士兵与未选择的士兵的 SFAS 前血液代谢组，并探索代谢组、身体表现和饮食质量之间的关系。

方法

在进入 SFAS 以分别评估代谢组学概况和饮食质量之前，从 761 名士兵中收集了禁食血样和食物频率问卷。在整个 SFAS 中评估身体表现。

结果

检测到 108 种代谢物的组间差异（错误发现率 < 0.05）。选定的候选物在异生素、磷酸戊糖和皮质类固醇代谢途径中具有更高水平的化合物，而非选定的候选物具有更高水平的可能指示氧化应激的化合物（即鞘磷脂、酰基肉碱、谷胱甘肽、氨基酸）。多种化合物在非选定候选物中含量高于选定候选物，包括：1-羧乙基苯丙氨酸；4-羟基壬烯醛谷胱甘肽；α-羟基异己酸；己酰肉碱；鞘磷脂，并与较低的饮食质量和较差的身体表现有关。 

结论

在 SFAS 期间选择的候选人具有更高的 SFAS 前循环代谢物水平，这些代谢物与抗氧化应激、更高的身体表现和更高的饮食质量相关。相比之下，未选择的候选者具有更高水平的代谢物，可能表明氧化应激升高。这些发现表明，被选中继续接受特种部队训练的士兵进入 SFAS 课程时所携带的代谢物与更健康的饮食和更好的身体表现相关。此外，未入选的候选人具有更高水平的代谢物，这可能表明氧化应激升高，这可能是由于营养不良、非功能性过度伸展/过度训练或从之前的身体活动中恢复不完全所致。