Dietary Supplement Use in US Army Personnel: A Mixed-Methods, Survey and Focus-Group Study Examining Decision Making and Factors Associated With Use.

Background: Dietary supplement (DS) use by Army personnel is high and is a safety and readiness issue.

Objective: Our aim was to examine factors motivating use of DSs among US Army personnel and preferred safety education strategies.

Design: This mixed-method study used a validated DS questionnaire and subsequent focus groups that were formed based on questionnaire-identified demographic characteristics.

Caffeine, Energy Beverage Consumption, Fitness, and Sleep in U.S. Army Aviation Personnel.

Caffeine-containing products and dietary supplements are widely used by military populations, but little is known about their use by aviation personnel. This study assessed self-reported sleep, fitness, work-schedules, and caffeine/energy drink use. A standardized survey was conducted in person by study personnel using tablet computers.

Personality Traits and Occupational Demands Are Linked to Dietary Supplement Use in Soldiers: A Cross-sectional Study of Sensation Seeking Behaviors.

Introduction: Military personnel use dietary supplements (DS) more frequently and in a higher quantity than the general population. Patterns of DS used and the motivation for use among the military population are different than those of the civilian population. Soldiers are much more likely to use potentially dangerous DS purported to enhance physical performance and/or promote weight loss in spite of limited evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of these products.

Effect of oxygen-absorbing packaging on the shelf life of a liquid-based component of military operational rations.

Oxygen within the sealed package can reduce the quality of liquid-based food products with high oil content such as hot-filled meal-ready-to-eat (MRE) cheese spread, a component of military operational rations. The aim of this study was to test a novel oxygen absorber-containing laminate material and its ability to maintain and/or extend shelf life of a cheese-spread MRE item. An iron-based oxygen absorber (ABSO(2)RB(R)) activated by moisture was incorporated into the laminate and used to pack hot-filled cheese spread MREs.