Training Table to the Battlefield: Protein Recommendations for Warfighters

Abstract

Warfighters represent a population of athletes for whom routine training and physical expectations for military operations parallel, and very often exceed, those of their civilian counterparts. Like athletes, warfighters require nutrition support to optimize physical condition to maintain training, sustain performance, speed recovery, and prevent injury and illness. Specifically, energy and protein requirements have been tailored for these populations. Like athletes, warfighters consider protein a critical component of their diet and often incorporate protein supplements into daily diet plans. This article highlights sports nutrition principles that target energy and protein needs of athletes, considers the basis of these recommendations in the context of protein supplementation, and asserts that translating these recommendations to the warfighter is appropriate and necessary. The recommended range of protein intake of 1.2–1.8 g · kg − 1 · d − 1 can be extended to the warfighter. Because energy balance is pivotal to optimal protein utilization, adequate energy intake or lack thereof such that a state of negative energy balance exists, should be given particular consideration for the warfighter. Routine protein supplementation is recommended to reduce protein breakdown, support protein synthesis, and promote a positive net protein balance throughout various deployment situations and when energy intake is insufficient.