Pre-deployment Vitamin D And Nutritional Status In Us Navy Sailors

Abstract

PURPOSE: Navy shipboard personnel have difficulty meeting dietary needs due to limited food options resulting from military operations in isolated environments with infrequent resupply opportunities. The impact of such dietary deficiencies on health and operational readiness is not well characterized. The purpose is to document operational nutrition capability gap(s) and benefits of using a fleet-based dietitian. METHODS: U.S. Navy Sailors (41 males; 30 females, age = 18-45) were assessed pre-deployment for height (m), weight (kg), body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), body fat (BF%), blood pressure (BP, mmHg), and nutritional biomarkers (lipid panel, HemoglobinA1C (HgA1c), ferritin (FE), C-reactive protein (CRP), Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), and Complete Blood Count (CBC)) via non-fasted venipuncture. Diet, lifestyle, and occupational habits were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Pre-deployment only data is presented and summarized using means±SE. RESULTS: Most Sailors (80%) had low (<20 ng/ml; n = 18) to suboptimal (20 to <30 ng/ml; n = 43) Vitamin D3 (D3) levels. Total cholesterol levels were borderline (170-199 mg/dl; n = 27) in 42% and high (>200 mg/dl; n = 11) in 16% of Sailors. Most (73%) had normal triglyceride levels (<150 mg/dl; n = 52) with five at levels >200 mg/dl. High BP (mean = 129/79) was detected in 57% of Sailors (i.e., systolic>130 or diastolic>80 mmHg). HgA1C levels (5.1 ± 0.1%) were normal, but inflammation was detected in five Sailors (CRP > 1 mg/dL), and two also had elevated FE levels (>300 mg/dL). Twelve males had high FE levels with normal CRP indicative of iron overload (range = 297 to 752 mg/dl). Additionally, 13% of females had a negative iron balance (FE < 20 mg/dL). Over a third of females (40%; BF% = 32.7 ± 1.2%) and one third of males (33%; BF% = 23.0 ± 0.9%) fell outside Navy standards. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Global scores (7.3 ± 0.4) were consistent with poor sleep quality (score > 5) in most Sailors (58%). CONCLUSIONS: Sailors had key deficiencies in nutrition, sleep, and general health. Pre-deployment D3, a vitamin important for bone and immune health, were low to suboptimal in 80% of the Sailors with a further decline expected during deployment if left untreated. A screen-to-treat protocol for D3 may be warranted.