title: Dietary intakes of expeditioners during prolonged sunlight deprivation in polar enviroments do not support bone health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early Antarctic expeditions were plagued by nutrient deficiencies, due to lack of fresh food and reliance on preserved foods. Modern Antarctic expeditioners also require provisions to be shipped in, but improved knowledge and storage options ensure foods are nutritionally sound. Despite this, nutritional imbalances are observed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the adequacy of dietary intake of Antarctic expeditioners, with reference to bone health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary intake was determined on 225 adults (mean age 42±11 years, 16% female) during 12-month deployments at Australian Antarctic stations from 2004 to 2010, using weighed 3-day food records. Nutrient intake was analysed using FoodWorks. Foods were divided into the 5 food groups according to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men consumed below the recommended levels [recommended daily intake (RDI)/adequate intakes (AI)] of calcium (79±42% of RDI, p<0.001), magnesium (83±34% of RDI, p<0.001), potassium (86±29% of AI, p<0.001) and fibre (75±30% of AI, p<0.001), and above the upper limit (UL) for sodium (125±48% of UL p<0.001), whereas women consumed below the recommended levels of calcium (68±21% of RDI, p<0.001) and iron (73±37% of RDI, p<0.001). Vitamin D intake is not substantial (<150 IU/d). Men consumed more alcohol than women (18±24 g/d vs. 10±13 g/d, p<0.05), nearer the guideline of ≤20 g/d. Men and women consumed approximately 1 serving of dairy food per day, and 3 of 5 recommended vegetable servings. Discretionary foods were consumed in excess of recommended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving consumption of calcium-rich (dairy) foods better supports bone health during sunlight deprivation. Increasing vegetable intake to recommended levels will increase fibre, potassium and magnesium intakes. The challenge is the logistics of providing these foods throughout the year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University of Melbourne/Austin Health, West Heidelberg, Australia; sandraib@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.affiliation: Polar Medicine Unit, Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ayton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001315:Australia; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005101:Expeditions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Antarctic; bone; calcium; diet; nutrition