(P17-012-25) Active Duty Service Members Report Higher Dietary Supplement Use Than Incoming U.S. Army Basic Combat Trainees

Objectives: Approximately 70% of active duty service members (ADSMs) report taking dietary supplements (DSs) for their purported effects on health and physical and cognitive performance. Despite the widespread use, whether DS use differs between individuals before and during active duty service remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to compare the prevalence of DS use between individuals entering military service and ADSMs.

Methods: A validated questionnaire was distributed to assess DS use among two U.S. military populations. Among 200,000 ADSMs identified from a large data repository, 26,680 completed the questionnaire and reported their DS use over the past 6 months. Additionally, 116 incoming U.S. Army trainees from Fort Moore, GA, completed the questionnaire and reported DS use over the 30 days before starting One Station Unit Training (OSUT). Responses from each group were classified into pre-defined DS categories based on whether participants used a DS at least once per week. Chi-square tests were used to compare the frequencies of DS use between the groups and across DS categories.

Results: Overall, 74% of ADSMs and 59.5% trainees reported using DSs. Among ADSMs, the most frequently used DSs were multivitamin/mineral (MVM), protein, pre/post workout, individual vitamin/mineral (IVM), and other. Among trainees, the most frequently used included protein, pre/post workout, MVM, IVM, and muscle-building DSs. ADSMs were more likely to report using MVM (44.5% vs. 25%, p < .001), fat loss (26.3% vs. 1.7%, p < .001), herbal (20.1% vs. 7%, p < .001), fish oil/omega-3 (23% vs. 12.1%, p=.005), and other (30.6% vs. 3.2%, p < .001) DSs compared to trainees. IVM (p=.12), protein (p=.52), muscle-building (p=.62), pre/post workout (p=.28), and joint health (p=.22) DS use were comparable between groups.

Conclusions: Trainees use less DSs across several categories compared to ADSMs, though DS use is high in both study populations. Our findings suggest exposure to military service may influence the types of supplements used, particularly for general health and fat loss, but longitudinal analyses are needed to confirm our assumptions.

Funding Sources: USAMRDC MOMRP