On the need to increase the age categories of male military personnel for rationing of the nutritional status

Abstract

Introduction. The purpose of the study is scientific and methodological justification of the need to increase the number of age groups to clarify the standards for assessing the nutritional status of military personnel.
 Materials and methods. The study involved one thousand three hundred seventy six 18 to 53 years male servicemen under medical examination. The following methods were used: anthropometry, assessing body composition (bioimpedance, caliperometry), the functional state and adaptive reserves. Statistical data analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel and Statistica 10.0 software products.
 Results. Based on the results of the analysis of literary sources and own research, for assessing and rationing of the nutritional status there were identified 4 age groups of military personnel, differed from each other at a highly reliable level (p>0.001) for all the studied indicators.
 It was found that representatives of the 1st age group (18–20 years) were characterized by the best values of adaptation of the cardiovascular system and the body’s resistance to physical exertion, as well as high reserve functionality and recovery rate after physical exertion. Representatives of the 2nd age group (21–27 years old) are objectively the best in most of the indicators studied by us compared to other age groups. In the military personnel of the 3rd age group (28–35 years), in general, with satisfactory results for most of the parameters studied, there was a significant decrease in the indicators of the functional state, compared with the first two groups. Representatives of the 4th age group (36 years and over) had the highest percentage of values of the studied indicators below the norm.
 Limitations. The medical examination, which included measurements of body size, composition, and assessment of functional status, involved 1,376 18 to 53 years male servicemen, which is a sufficient reference sample. 
 Conclusion. The necessity of increasing the number of age groups to assess the nutritional status in male servicemen is substantiated. Based on the conducted research, 4 age groups of military personnel were identified to assess the nutritional status, which differ from each other at a highly reliable level.