Effects of deployment on diet quality and nutritional status markers of elite U.S. Army special operations forces soldiers

Nutrition Journal

Research

Jonathan C. Taylor¹  Emily K. Farina²  Stefan M. Pasiakos³  Nancy E. Murphy³  Harris R. Lieberman³  James P. McClung³  Gary E. Means⁴ 

[1] Department of Health and Human Sciences, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 330 C Street, NW, 20201, Washington, DC, USA;Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Suite 100, 20817, Bethesda, MD, USA;Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 492 Millennium Drive, Suite 101, 21017, Belcamp, MD, USA;U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Military Nutrition Division, 10 General Greene Avenue, Building 42, 01760, Natick, MA, USA;U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Military Nutrition Division, 10 General Greene Avenue, Building 42, 01760, Natick, MA, USA;U.S. Army Special Operations Command, 2929 Desert Storm Drive, 28303, Fort Bragg, NC, USA;

关键词: Healthy eating index;    Iron;    Ferritin;    Calcium;    Vitamin D;    Parathyroid hormone;    Military;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12937-017-0262-5

 received in 2017-03-14, accepted in 2017-06-21,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSpecial Operations Forces (SOF) Soldiers deploy frequently and require high levels of physical and cognitive performance. Nutritional status is linked to cognitive and physical performance. Studies evaluating dietary intake and nutritional status in deployed environments are lacking. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of combat deployment on diet quality and serum concentrations of nutritional status markers, including iron, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), glucose, and lipids, among elite United States (U.S.) Army SOF Soldiers.MethodsChanges from baseline to post-deployment were determined with a repeated measure within-subjects design for Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores, intake of foods, food groups, key nutrients, and serum nutritional status markers. Dietary intake was assessed with a Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. The association between post-deployment serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) and PTH was determined. Analyses of serum markers were completed on 50 participants and analyses of dietary intake were completed on 33 participants.ResultsIn response to deployment, HEI-2010 scores decreased for total HEI-2010 (70.3 ± 9.1 vs. 62.9 ± 11.1), total fruit (4.4 ± 1.1 vs. 3.7 ± 1.5), whole fruit (4.6 ± 1.0 vs. 4.2 ± 1.4), dairy (6.2 ± 2.7 vs. 4.8 ± 2.4), and empty calories (14.3 ± 3.2 vs. 11.1 ± 4.5) (P ≤ 0.05). Average daily intakes of foods and food groups that decreased included total dairy (P < 0.01), milk (P < 0.01), and non-juice fruit (P = 0.03). Dietary intake of calcium (P = 0.05) and vitamin D (P = 0.03) decreased. PTH increased from baseline (3.4 ± 1.6 vs. 3.8 ± 1.4 pmol/L, P = 0.04), while there was no change in 25-OH vitamin D. Ferritin decreased (385 ± 173 vs. 354 ± 161 pmol/L, P = 0.03) and soluble transferrin receptor increased (16.3 ± 3.7 vs. 17.1 ± 3.5 nmol/L, P = 0.01). There were no changes in glucose or lipids. Post-deployment, serum 25-OH vitamin D was inversely associated with PTH (r = −0.43, P < 0.01).ConclusionsHEI-2010 scores and dietary intake of milk, calcium, and vitamin D decreased following deployment. Serum PTH increased and iron stores were degraded. No Soldiers were iron deficient. Personnel that deploy frequently should maintain a high diet quality in the U.S. and while deployed by avoiding empty calories and consuming fruits, vegetables, and adequate sources of calcium, vitamin D, and iron. Improving availability and quality of perishable food during deployment may improve diet quality.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017