Does the military believe in supplements?

US Army soldiers engage in strenuous activities and must maintain fitness and body weight to retain their jobs. Anecdotal reports suggest that the use of dietary supplements (DSs) by soldiers may reflect their unique occupational requirements and the complexity of their job and family responsibilities. A survey of 990 randomly selected soldiers was performed at 11 army bases globally.

Overall, 53% of soldiers reported the use of DSs 1 time/wk; 23% of soldiers used sports beverages, 6% of soldiers used sports bars or gels, and 3% of soldiers reported the use of meal-replacement beverages. Most commonly used DSs were multivitamins or multiminerals (37.5%), protein and amino acids (18.7%), individual vitamins and minerals (17.9%), combination products (9.1%), and herbal supplements (8.3%).

Soldiers, like civilians, use large amounts of DSs, often in combination. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October

Steve - recently, the U.S. Army has approved a study on the use of EPA and DHA omega 3s to improve the mood and mental health of soldiers in Iraq. The study will follow 250 soldiers for three months, who will receive either a placebo or fish oil concentrate pills. Patients will be evaluated using a number of psychological measures, as well as red blood cell concentrations of EPA and DHA.