PMID- 29502523 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20181126 LR - 20181202 IS - 2054-9369 (Electronic) IS - 2095-7467 (Print) IS - 2054-9369 (Linking) VI - 4 IP - 1 DP - 2017 Oct 26 TI - Self-reported dietary supplement use in deployed United States service members pre-deployment vs. during deployment, Afghanistan, 2013-2014. PG - 34 LID - 10.1186/s40779-017-0141-6 [doi] LID - 34 AB - BACKGROUND: Dietary supplement use (protein/amino acids, weight-loss supplements, performance enhancers) is common among U.S. military members. Reported dietary supplement use in deployed troops is limited and is of concern in settings where troops are exposed to high ambient temperatures, increased physical demands, and dehydration. Our objective was to describe dietary supplement use and adverse events (AEs) among deployed U.S. service members compared with their pre-deployment use. METHODS: We conducted an institutional review board (IRB) approved, descriptive study in Afghanistan using a written questionnaire and collected demographic information, dietary supplement use before and during deployment, AEs associated with supplement use, and physical workout routines. Participants were U.S. military personnel of all branches of service deployed to Afghanistan. They were recruited in high-traffic areas in the combat theater. We analyzed the data with descriptive statistics. Paired t-test/Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to examine the before/during deployment changes for continuous data, and McNemar's chi-square test was conducted for categorical data. We constructed separate logistic regression models to determine the best predictors of increases or decreases in dietary supplement use, with demographic information, reasons for using supplements, and education requested/received as covariates in each model. All statistical tests were two-sided at a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Data were collected on 1685 participants. Ninety-seven of the participants were in the Army or Air Force. The participants were more likely to work out daily or more than once a day during deployment. Thirty-five percent of the participants reported no supplement use before or during deployment. The remaining 65% of participants reported increased use and increased frequency of use of supplements (e.g., daily) during deployment compared with pre-deployment. Additionally, more people followed label instructions strictly during deployment vs. pre-deployment. Overall, the frequency of self-reported AEs among supplement users remained consistent before and during deployment. The only significant difference noted was in problems falling or staying asleep, which increased during deployment. In the adjusted logistic regression models, the level of formal education, military branch, occupational specialty, education about dietary supplements, and certain reasons for using supplements (to boost energy, lose weight, gain muscle strength and mass, and as a meal replacement) were significant predictors of changes in supplement use. CONCLUSION: Deployed U.S. service members were more likely to use dietary supplements, use more than one supplement and use supplements more frequently during deployment than pre-deployment. No serious AEs were reported, but problems falling or staying asleep increased during deployment. FAU - Varney, Shawn M AU - Varney SM AD - University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7709 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. FAU - Ng, Patrick C AU - Ng PC AD - San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA. patrickcng1@gmail.com. AD - Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, CO, USA. patrickcng1@gmail.com. FAU - Perez, Crystal A AU - Perez CA AD - U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, USAF En Route Care Research Center, 3698 Chambers Pass STE B, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA. FAU - Arana, Allyson A AU - Arana AA AD - U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, USAF En Route Care Research Center, 3698 Chambers Pass STE B, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA. FAU - Austin, Edwin R AU - Austin ER AD - San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA. FAU - Ramos, Rosemarie G AU - Ramos RG AD - University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7709 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. FAU - Bebarta, Vikhyat S AU - Bebarta VS AD - Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Place, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20171026 PL - England TA - Mil Med Res JT - Military Medical Research JID - 101643181 SB - IM MH - Adolescent MH - Adult MH - Afghan Campaign 2001- MH - Dietary Supplements/adverse effects/*statistics & numerical data MH - Female MH - Humans MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - Military Personnel/*statistics & numerical data MH - *Self Report MH - Surveys and Questionnaires MH - United States MH - Warfare PMC - PMC5657096 OTO - NOTNLM OT - Adverse events OT - Dietary supplement OT - Exercise OT - Military OT - Workout COIS- AUTHORS' INFORMATION: SV is a board certified Medical Toxicologist, and Director of the South Texas Poison Center. He was an active duty physician in the Air Force and has been involved in many studies involving the health of military members. PN and EA are active duty emergency medicine physicians in the Air Force involved in several published studies involving military population data. Additionally, PN is a Medical Toxicology fellow at the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver, CO. VB is a professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology at UC Denver, Colorado and was an active duty physician when this study was conducted. AA, CP, and RR have extensive experience with statistical analysis and are authors of numerous articles. The authors have no competing interests. ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: The U.S. Medical Research and Materiel Command Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved this study. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not Applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not represent the official views or policies of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, or U.S. Air Force. EDAT- 2018/03/06 06:00 MHDA- 2018/11/27 06:00 PMCR- 2017/10/26 CRDT- 2018/03/06 06:00 PHST- 2017/03/29 00:00 [received] PHST- 2017/10/09 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2018/03/06 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2018/03/06 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2018/11/27 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2017/10/26 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.1186/s40779-017-0141-6 [pii] AID - 141 [pii] AID - 10.1186/s40779-017-0141-6 [doi] PST - epublish SO - Mil Med Res. 2017 Oct 26;4(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s40779-017-0141-6.