Tornero Aguilera, José FranciscoMartín Gómez, Francisco JoséMartínez Taranilla, ManuelRubio Zarapuz, AlejandroMartín Rodríguez, AlexandraClemente Suárez, Vicente Javier2026-07-302026-07-302025New item… Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Martin-Gomez, F. J., Martinez-Taranilla, M., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Rodríguez, A. M., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2025). Can a weekend of controlled hypoxia restore hormonal balance? A novel approach to stress recovery in aviation professionals. Frontiers in Physiology, 16, 1582591. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.15825911664-042Xhttps://hdl.handle.net/11268/17343Aviation 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. 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. 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. 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. DHEAS exhibited a slight but non-significant increase, while the DHEA-S/cortisol ratio improved, suggesting enhanced stress resilience. 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 effectsengAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/HipoxiaCortisolEstrés psicológicojournal article10.3389/fphys.2025.1582591open accessFisiología humanaEndocrinologíaSalud mentalGoal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages