Consumption of a calcium and vitamin D-fortified food product does not affect iron status during initial military training: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Stephen R Hennigar, Erin Gaffney-Stomberg, Laura J Lutz, Sonya J Cable, Stefan M Pasiakos, Andrew J Young, James P McClung

Journal: The British journal of nutrition 2016;115(4):637-43

PMID: 26625709

Full Text on Ovid Technologies, Inc. View on PubMed

Abstract

Ca/vitamin D supplementation maintains bone health and decreases stress fracture risk during initial military training (IMT); however, there is evidence that Ca may negatively affect the absorption of other critical micronutrients, particularly Fe. The objective of this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to determine whether providing 2000 mg/d Ca and 25 µg/d vitamin D in a fortified food product during 9 weeks of military training affects Fe status in young adults. Male (n 98) and female (n 54) volunteers enrolled in US Army basic combat training (BCT) were randomised to receive a snack bar with Ca/vitamin D (n 75) or placebo (snack bar without Ca/vitamin D; n 77) and were instructed to consume 2 snack bars/d between meals throughout the training course. Circulating ionised Ca was higher (P0·05) in markers of Fe status between placebo and Ca/vitamin D groups. Collectively, these data indicate that Ca/vitamin D supplementation through the use of a fortified food product consumed between meals does not affect Fe status during IMT.

Address: 1Military Nutrition Division,United States (US) Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine,Natick,MA 01760,USA.; 2Military Performance Division,United States (US) Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine,Natick,MA 01760,USA.; 3Initial Military Training Center of Excellence,Fort Eustis,VA 23604,USA.

DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515004766

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/calcium.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Biomarkers, Calcium, Dietary, Double-Blind Method, Female, Food, Fortified, Fractures, Stress, Humans, Iron, Dietary, Male, Military Personnel, Nutritional Status, Oklahoma, Physical Conditioning, Human, Risk Factors, Snacks, Stress, Physiological, Vitamin D, Young Adult