Physiological and hygienic assessment of nutrition for crew members of surface ships of the Navy in a long maritime campaign

Abstract

The nutrition of food for the crews of surface ships (vessels) of the Navy in a long sea cruise was studied to assess the energy and plastic adequacy of the current diet. The indicators of the chemical composition and energy value of the average daily diet are determined taking into account natural technological losses. Standard data on incomplete digestibility of nutrients are taken into account. It has been established that the full compliance of the composition of the consumed food with the norm of sea rations is not ensured. Some mineral elements and vitamins are contained in the food prepared in insufficient quantities. Consequently, in a long maritime campaign, actually consumed food for energy value does not fully ensure the daily energy expenditure of this category of specialists. However, this is not confirmed by the anthropometric and component indices of the body composition revealed before and after the long hike: an increase in the waist-hip index (medians of 0,85 and 0,91 eu, respectively, p=0.008); an increase in the percentage of adipose tissue in the body (medians 15,3 and 18,5%, respectively, p=0,044). Established in the course of work, the dynamics of the body composition of servicemen in a long sea cruise testifies to the non-observance of the principle of energy adequacy of feeding the crew in the direction of exceeding its calorific value. Thus, the current diet (sea ration) does not need to increase its energy content, but it requires improving its composition and compensating for the deficiency of vitamins and certain trace elements by introducing modern vitamin-mineral complexes into the diet.