Suchergebnisse

OBJECTIVES: Acute bouts of sleep restriction (SR) are unavoidable in certain populations (e.g., military personnel and first responders), and impairs immune function as evidenced by delays in skin barrier recovery of experimental wounds by ∼1 day. To what extent this impairment can be mitigated by nutritional supplementation is less clear. We tested the efficacy of a multi-nutrient beverage and additional protein on wound healing in response to acute SR. METHODS: In this single-blind, cross-over study, wounds were created in healthy adults by removing the top layer of ≤ 8 forearm blisters (∼30 mm(2)) induced via suction on Day 2 of 72-h SR (lab monitored, 2-h nightly sleep). A controlled, isocaloric diet was provided during SR with either 0.9 g · kg(−1) · d(−1) protein plus placebo (PLA) or 1.5 g · kg(−1) · d(−1) protein plus multi-nutrient beverage (NUT; L-arginine: 20 g · d(−1), L-glutamine: 30 g · d(−1), omega-3 fatty acids: 1 g · d(−1), zinc sulfate: 24 mg · d(−1), vitamin D3: 800 IU · d(−1) and vitamin C: 400 mg · d(−1)). For 4 days following SR, participants were instructed to continue with the respective PLA or NUT treatment. Protein prescription and beverage components were based on data from clinical settings that have shown benefits related to postsurgical infectious complications and wound healing disorders. Skin barrier restoration was assessed by transepidermal water loss, measured daily until values were within 90% of unbroken skin. RESULTS: Twenty participants completed PLA and NUT (18 M/2F; 19.7 ± 2.3 years [mean ± SD]), Body weight change was not different during PLA and NUT (–0.06 ± 0.88 kg and −0.12 ± 1.54 kg, respectively, P = 0.90) and dietary protein intake during and after SR was 1.08 ± 0.28 g · kg(−1) · d(−1) and 1.44 ± 0.27 g · kg(−1) · d(−1), respectively. Compliance with study beverages was ∼95%. Skin barrier recovery time was shorter for NUT (4.29 ± 1.17 days) compared to PLA (5.48 ± 1.30 days) (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Supplemental nutrition may be beneficial for mitigating delays in ...

OBJECTIVES: Sustained negative energy balance during military operations contributes to degradations in physical and cognitive performance. Characterizing the diet-related behaviors and nutrition knowledge of Soldiers who self-select higher energy intakes during military operations may identify strategies for promoting energy balance. This study aimed to identify diet-related behaviors of Soldiers who self-selected higher energy intakes during a simulated military operation. METHODS: Dietary intake and body weight were measured daily in 54 Soldiers (91% male, BMI 25 ± 4 kg/m(2), 25 ± 4 yr) participating in a 3-d military exercise. During the exercise, Soldiers were provided with military rations (2787–3003 kcal/d), and in some cases consumed items from home or mobile catering. Food frequency and nutrition knowledge questionnaires were completed before the exercise to assess diet quality by HEI-2010 total score and nutrition knowledge, respectively, and questionnaires assessing eating behaviors during the exercise were completed daily and after the exercise. Associations between diet quality, nutrition knowledge, and diet-related behaviors with 1) daily energy intake (EI) and 2) weight loss (∆BW) were determined by backwards elimination multiple linear regression. RESULTS: EI (mean ± SD: 1947 ± 627 kcal/d) and ∆BW (−1.4 ± 1.2%) during the exercise were not correlated. After adjusting for baseline BMI, EI was associated with diet quality (β ± SE: 17 ±9 kcal/d, P = 0.07) and eating frequency (170 ± 86 kcal/d, P = 0.06) and more often intentionally eating foods to improve performance (−389 ± 207 kcal/d, P = 0.07) during the exercise (R(2) = 0.27, P = 0.03). In contrast, greater ∆BW was associated only with more often "not allowing myself to eat" certain foods during the exercise (R(2) = 0.11; −0.8 ± 0.4%, P = 0.04). Nutrition knowledge was not a significant predictor in either model. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that self-selected energy intake and body weight loss during military operations may be associated with ...

OBJECTIVES: US Army Soldiers must comply with body composition (BC) and physical fitness (PF) standards as a condition for military entry and retention. Whether eating behaviors are associated with meeting these standards is unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the specific eating behaviors associated with failing BC and PF standards, and to characterize the eating behaviors and other habits of Soldiers who are high performers as defined by high PF scores and consistently meeting BC standards. METHODS: Soldiers (N = 1460, 93% enlisted, 83% male, 23.5 ± 5.2 years of age with 3.5 ± 4.0 years of service) completed a questionnaire to assess their eating behaviors and history of compliance with BC and PF standards. Multivariate adjusted logistic regression models using maximum likelihood estimation were used to examine relationships between Soldiers' eating behaviors and failing standards. Bivariate analysis was used to test differences between high (HP) and low performers (LP). RESULTS: Eating mostly (>50% of meals in last 7 days) at a dining facility lowered the odds of BC failure by 2.63 times (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.64); whereas, eating mostly Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), eating at a fast rate, and ignoring fullness cues raised the odds by 2.23 times (95% CI: 1.15, 4.35), 2.65 times (95% CI: 1.18, 5.94) and 1.90 times (95% CI: 1.16, 3.11), respectively. Eating mostly at restaurants, being distracted while eating, and extreme hunger prior to meals, raised the odds of PF failure by 1.70 times (95% CI: 1.17, 2.48), 1.68 times (95% CI: 1.13, 2.51), and 1.55 times (95% CI: 1.08, 2.24), respectively. HP were significantly less likely than LP to eat mostly at restaurants (25% HP, 39% LP) and were significantly more likely than LP to report longer work hours (33% HP, 28% LP) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that specific eating behaviors of Soldiers are associated with failing BC and PF standards. As eating behaviors may be modifiable, these findings could identify opportunities for ...

OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and iron deficiency (ID) are associated with injury risk and performance, respectively, in military recruits during initial military training (IMT). Breakfast skipping is prevalent among young adults and contributes to decreased intakes of vitamin D and iron. However, whether breakfast skipping is associated with VDD and ID in military recruits, and whether the mandatory breakfast attendance required in IMT mitigates VDD and ID is unknown. METHODS: Army, Air Force, and Marine recruits (N = 2117, 42% male, mean ± SD age 21 ± 4y) completed a food frequency questionnaire pre-IMT, and provided blood samples pre- and post-IMT. Breakfast skipping was self-reported and defined as skipping breakfast ≥3 d/wk pre-IMT. Diet quality was determined by Healthy Eating Index. ID was defined as meeting ≥2 of the following: serum ferritin 15%. VDD was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) <20 ng/mL. Associations between breakfast skipping, VDD, ID, vitamin D intake, and diet quality were determined by multivariate-adjusted logistic and linear regression. Mediation models tested whether diet quality and vitamin D intake mediated associations between breakfast eating and VDD. RESULTS: 50% of military recruits were classified as breakfast skippers pre-IMT. Breakfast skipping was associated with increased odds of VDD pre-IMT (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.2). Diet quality and vitamin D intake were partial mediators, with breakfast skipping indirectly increasing odds of VDD through lower diet quality and lower vitamin D intake pre-IMT (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.2; OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–14, respectively). There were no associations between habitual breakfast skipping and pre-IMT ID or pre- to post-IMT change in VDD, 25OHD concentrations, diet quality, or vitamin D intake. CONCLUSIONS: Breakfast skipping is prevalent among incoming military recruits and is associated with increased odds of VDD due in part to lower diet ...