Associations of nutrition and body composition with cardiovascular disease risk factors in soldiers during a 6-month deployment

• Authors: Tarja Nykänen , Kai Pihlainen , Heikki Kyröläinen , Mikael Fogelholm

Abstracts

EN

ObjectivesThis observational follow-up study investigated the associations of nutrition and body composition with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including pro-inflammatory biomarkers, in soldiers during a 6-month deployment.Material and MethodsThirty-five male soldiers were assessed at months 0, 3 and 6, and their parameters, i.e., M±SD, were as follows: age 30.0±8.7 years, height 179±6 cm, and BMI 24.2±2.5 kg/m2. Three-day food diaries were used for monitoring macronutrient intake. Body composition was estimated using bioimpedance. Fasting blood samples for lipids and pro-inflammatory biomarkers were collected, and blood pressure measurements were performed.ResultsCarbohydrate intake increased and protein intake decreased at month 3 (p = 0.034, p < 0.001), while body composition remained stable. Systolic blood pressure increased at month 6, while other CVD risk factors remained within the reference values. Fat mass and body fat percentage were associated positively with total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations at all measurement points. A negative association was found between the change in fiber intake vs. the change in total (r = –0.36, p = 0.033) and LDL cholesterol (r = –0.39, p = 0.019).ConclusionsLower fiber intake and a greater amount of body fat were associated with high total and LDL cholesterol concentrations. Nevertheless, the measured CVD risk factors remained within the reference values, except for the higher systolic blood pressure. A regular screening of body composition and a higher consumption of fiberrich foods may promote cardiometabolic health in soldiers.

Keywords

EN

blood pressure; cholesterol; soldier; body fat; fiber intake; crisis management

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2020
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 457-466

Dates

published

2020

Contributors

author

Tarja Nykänen

• Finnish Defence Forces, Lappeenranta, Finland (Army Academy)

author

Kai Pihlainen

• Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland (Training Division of Defence Command)

author

Heikki Kyröläinen

• University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland (Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences)
• National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland (Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy)

author

Mikael Fogelholm

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Department of Food and Nutrition)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01541

Biblioteka Nauki

2116568