Dietary Intake and Nitrogen Balance in British Army Infantry Recruits Undergoing Basic Training

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2020 Jul 26

PMID 32709021

Citations 6

Authors

Shaun Chapman

Alex J Rawcliffe

Rachel Izard

Kimberley Jacka

Hayley Tyson

Lee Smith

Justin Roberts

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We assessed dietary intake and nitrogen balance during 14 weeks of Basic Training (BT) in British Army Infantry recruits. Nineteen men (mean ± SD: age 19.9 ± 2.6 years, height: 175.7 ± 6.5 cm, body mass 80.3 ± 10.1 kg) at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick (ITC(C)) volunteered. Nutrient intakes and 24-h urinary nitrogen balance were assessed in weeks 2, 6 and 11 of BT. Nutrient intake was assessed using researcher-led weighed food records and food diaries, and Nutritics professional dietary software. Data were compared between weeks using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with statistical significance set at ≤ 0.05. There was a significant difference in protein intake (g) between weeks 2 and 11 of BT (115 ± 18 vs. 91 ± 20 g, = 0.02, ES = 1.26). There was no significant difference in mean absolute daily energy ( = 0.44), fat ( = 0.79) or carbohydrate (CHO) intake ( = 0.06) between weeks. Nitrogen balance was maintained in weeks 2, 6 and 11, but declined throughout BT (2: 4.6 ± 4.1 g, 6: 1.6 ± 4.5 g, 11: -0.2 ± 5.5 g, = 0.07). A protein intake of 1.5 g·kg·d may be sufficient in the early stages of BT, but higher intakes may be individually needed later on in BT.

Citing Articles

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