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Sports/Performance Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P29-009-25) Dietary Supplement Use Among Active-Duty US Military Personnel: An Analysis of the Military Health and Nutrition Examination Study

Monday, June 2, 2025
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board B-18
Disclosure(s):
Michael P. Smith, B.S. Biological Engineering: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Susan N. Cheung, MS, RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Alexandra M. Niclou, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Tracey J. Smith, PhD, RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Claire E. Berryman, PhD, RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: The most recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicates 58% of US civilian adults use at least one dietary supplement (DS). Active-duty military personnel are exposed to unique occupational stressors that may impact DS use; however, active-duty military are not included in NHANES. The objective of this study was to analyze preliminary data from the Military Health and Nutrition Examination Study (MHANES), modeled after NHANES, to assess DS intake in active-duty service members. We hypothesized that a higher percentage of the military population would report using DS compared to the civilian population.

Methods: A total of 254 participants (n=66 female, n=188 male; age 18-52 y) from the MHANES study were divided by gender, and their responses (“yes”, “no”, and “skip”) counted to determine use of any DS and for eleven subcategories: multivitamins, individual vitamins, protein supplements (whey, casein, powders), herbal remedies, muscle builders (creatine), weight/fat-loss aids, pre- and post-workout, joint health products, omega-3s, and probiotics. Prevalence rates were calculated by dividing the amount of “yes” responses by the total responses and converting them to percentages.

Results: A similar percentage of females (70%) and males (72%) reported using at least one DS. DS use by subcategory differed by gender. Females most frequently reported using individual vitamins (41%) and multivitamins (35%), whereas males most frequently used protein (36%), muscle-building (24%), and pre- and post-workout (24%) supplements. The lowest usage rates were joint health (3%) and pre- and post-workout (3%) supplements in females and weight/fat-loss aids (5%) in males.

Conclusions: A high percentage of active-duty service members report DS use. Among active-duty service members, the types of DS consumed varied by gender.

Funding Sources: Supported by USAMRDC (award #HT94252311015); views expressed are not official US Army, DoD, or government policy.