Nutrition Knowledge and Supplement Use among Elite U.S. Army Soldiers

A U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) unit was studied to determine the characteristics of those who were dietary supplement users, assess their nutrition knowledge, and identify the nutrition information sources they use. SF-qualified (n=119) and non-SF, support soldiers (n=38) participated in the study....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bovill, Maria E, Tharion, William J, Lieberman, Harris R
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AMINO ACIDS
ARMY PERSONNEL
AUGMENTATION
COMPARISON
CREATINE
DATA ACQUISITION
DEMOGRAPHY
DIET
DIET ENHANCEMENT
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
ENERGY AIDS
Food, Food Service and Nutrition
Information Science
INFORMATION SOURCES
KNOWLEDGE LEVEL
Military Forces and Organizations
MINERALS
NON-SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS
NUTRITION
NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE
PROTEINS
QUESTIONNAIRES
REPRINTS
SOURCES
SPECIAL FORCES
SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS
SPORTS DRINKS
SUPPLEMENT USE
VITAMINS
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Summary:A U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) unit was studied to determine the characteristics of those who were dietary supplement users, assess their nutrition knowledge, and identify the nutrition information sources they use. SF-qualified (n=119) and non-SF, support soldiers (n=38) participated in the study. Results show that most soldiers (87%) reported current supplement use with more SF (90%) than non-SF, support soldiers (76%) using supplements (p /= 0.05). Supplements that SF soldiers reported using most were multivitamins, sports bars or sports drinks, and vitamin C. The mean nutrition knowledge score for all soldiers was 48.5 +/- 15.2% correct responses. Most soldiers incorrectly believe that protein is used for short-term athletic events (64%) and that vitamins provide energy (58%). The most common information sources reportedly used were popular magazines and books (75%), friends and team mates (55%), physicians and nurses (34%), radio and television (34%), and the internet (31%) Pub. in Military Medicine, v168 n12, p997-1000, Dec 2003. Sponsored in part by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command.