Effects of a Nutrient Enriched Beverage on Host Defense Mechanisms of Soldiers Completing the Special Forces Assessment and Selection School

We evaluated a liquid supplement containing anti-oxidants, indigestible carbohydrate, structured lipid, and vitamins and minerals for its effects upon the immune responses of soldiers participating in the US Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection School. Subjects on the experimental supplement...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kennedy, Jeffrey S, Wood, Steven M, Shippee, Ronald, Arsenault, Joanne
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ARMY PERSONNEL
ATTENUATION
BEVERAGES
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLS(BIOLOGY)
CYTOLOGY
DEFENSE SYSTEMS
ENRICHMENT
Food, Food Service and Nutrition
IMMUNITY
IN VIVO ANALYSIS
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
LEUKOCYTES
LIPIDS
LYMPHOCYTES
MEASUREMENT
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
MINERALS
NUTRIENTS
PATTERNS
RESPONSE(BIOLOGY)
RISK
SCHOOLS
SPECIAL FORCES
VITAMINS
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Summary:We evaluated a liquid supplement containing anti-oxidants, indigestible carbohydrate, structured lipid, and vitamins and minerals for its effects upon the immune responses of soldiers participating in the US Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection School. Subjects on the experimental supplements as well as controls lost approximately 6.4 pounds in 3 weeks with an estimated daily expenditure of 5040 Kcals. The in vivo measurement of cellular immune function, delayed type skin hypersensitivity at exit, suggested that subjects in the treatment group had a greater response (p = 0.07) and fewer subjects in the treatment group were anergic (18% vs 39%). The pattern of change in white blood cells and lymphocyte numbers and subsets were consistent with increased risk of infection during training with some attenuation of these effects with the supplement. This study provided a comprehensive evaluation of immune function and yielded evidence supporting the hypothesis that specific nutritional supplements may enhance immune function, expecially under stressful conditions or scenarios. Preparation with cooperation in ROss Products Division of Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, Oh.