Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of Soldiers Consuming the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE XII) During a 30-Day Field Training Exercise.

This study assessed soldiers ability to meet nutritional needs and maintain performance while solely consuming the MRE in a field environment for 30 days soldiers received only MREs MRE grp n35 or 2 A-ration meals 1 MRE daily for 30 days control grp n32. Energy consumption was lower and weight loss was greater in the MRE grp tha the control grp. The greatest weight loss occurred in soldiers intentionally trying to lose weight in the MRE grp. Non-dieting MRE grp soldiers lost 2 lbswk and had lost 3.1 of initial body weight by day 30 of the study. Weight loss was primarily due to a reduction in body fat stores. The MRE rp consumed only 55 of energy provided producing an energy deficit of 600 kcal day below the actual requirement of 3000-3200 kcalday. The MRE grp ate MRDA for calcium, B121 zinc, iron, magnesium, and folacin Serum biochemical indices of nutritional status indicated no deficiencies for any nutrient. The MRE grp obtained 100 of their MRDA for protein and demonstrated a positive nitrogen balance. There were no differences in road march times between groups or over time. Questionnaire assessment of moods and health symptoms indicated that subsisting on MREs did not impair perceived health, cognitive behavior, or affective behavior. The results indicate that, although caloric intake is low, performance and overall nutritional status are not impaired when soldiers consume only MRE XIIs for 30 days.