title: Suboptimal Nutritional Characteristics in Male and Female Soldiers Compared to Sports Nutrition Guidelines.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutrient intake of male and female Soldiers in the 101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault) compared to sports nutrition standards for athletes, and to identify suboptimal eating characteristics that may impair physical performance and jeopardize military readiness. Male and female Soldiers from the 101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault) completed a 24-hour dietary recall and nutrition history questionnaire before anthropometric and body composition measurements were taken. Compared to sports nutrition guidelines, Soldiers of the 101 st under consume carbohydrates (males: 3.9 ± 2.0 vs. 5.0 g/kg, p < 0.001; females: 4.0 ± 2.1 vs. 5.0 g/kg, p = 0.001), male Soldiers eat too much fat (32.4% of kcal vs. <30% of kcal, p = 0.000) and saturated fat (males: 10.5 ± 3.9% of kcal vs. 10.0% of kcal, p = 0.044), and both males and females follow a meal pattern that may not optimize energy availability throughout the day. Eating too much fat and under fueling carbohydrate may negatively impact the adaptations to physical training and compromise overall health. Although Soldiers continue to participate in arduous training programs, future research should be aimed at determining the energy and macronutrient needs to fuel and recover from specific types of military training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3840 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beals
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3840 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Darnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3840 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Mita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lovalekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3840 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3840 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3840 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Thida
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: San-Adams
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3698 Chambers Pass, Building 3611, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wirt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D064132:Sports Nutritional Sciences / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult