Enhanced physical and cognitive performance in active duty Airmen: evidence from a randomized multimodal physical fitness and nutritional intervention

Christopher E Zwilling,Jennifer Jurcsisn,Aron K Barbey,Matthew J Kuchan,Tapas Das,Erica Johnson,Evan Anderson,Adam Strang

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-74140-7

Abstract

Achieving military mission objectives requires high levels of performance from Airmen who operate under extreme physical and cognitive demands. Thus, there is a critical need to establish scientific interventions to enhance physical fitness and cognitive performance—promoting the resilience of Airmen and aiding in mission success. We therefore conducted a comprehensive, 12-week randomized controlled trial in active-duty Air Force Airmen (n = 148) to compare the efficacy of a multimodal intervention comprised of high-intensity interval aerobic fitness and strength training paired with a novel nutritional supplement [comprised of β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB), lutein, phospholipids, DHA and selected micronutrients including B12 and folic acid] to high-intensity interval aerobic fitness and strength training paired with a standard of care placebo beverage. The exercise intervention alone improved several dimensions of physical fitness [strength and endurance (+ 7.8%), power (+ 1.1%), mobility and stability (+ 18.3%), heart rate (− 1.3%) and lean muscle mass (+ 1.1%)] and cognitive function [(episodic memory (+ 19.9%), processing efficiency (+ 4.6%), executive function reaction time (− 5.8%) and fluid intelligence accuracy (+ 11.0%)]. Relative to exercise training alone, the multimodal fitness and nutritional intervention further improved working memory (+ 11.2%), fluid intelligence reaction time (− 6.2%), processing efficiency (+ 4.3%), heart rate (− 2.3%) and lean muscle mass (+ 1.6%). These findings establish the efficacy of a multimodal intervention that incorporates aerobic fitness and strength training with a novel nutritional supplement to enhance military performance objectives and to provide optimal exercise training and nutritional support for the modern warfighter.

Highlights

Challenging field environments can prevent warfighters from realizing their optimal physical and cognitive performance
Motivated by these parallel lines of research, the present study examined the efficacy of a multi-modal fitness and nutritional intervention to enhance cognitive performance and physical fitness in United States Air Force Airmen
Because participants were randomly assigned to intervention groups, differences in demographics, fitness or cognitive test measures at pre-intervention were not expected

Summary

Introduction

Challenging field environments can prevent warfighters from realizing their optimal physical and cognitive performance. Physical activity interventions improve cognition and the brain in multiple animal models, including rodents, dogs and monkeys[21] These models have demonstrated that exercise interventions result in (1) hippocampal neurogenesis; (2) increased synaptic activity in the brain; (3) growth of new blood vessels; (4) increased concentrations of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); (5) reduction of neurodegeneration; and (6) enhanced learning and memory[21]. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the combined effects of aerobic exercise, power and flexibility training had a greater cognitive benefit compared to only aerobic exercise training Motivated by these parallel lines of research, the present study examined the efficacy of a multi-modal fitness and nutritional intervention to enhance cognitive performance and physical fitness in United States Air Force Airmen. We investigated: (1) whether a unimodal exercise training protocol enhanced fitness and cognition and (2) whether a multimodal fitness plus nutritional intervention resulted in fitness and cognitive gains beyond those conferred by the unimodal intervention

Methods

Results

Conclusion