Changes in vitamin D status of female Soldiers during basic combat training
Abstract
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for maintaining bone health. Recent data suggest that changes in vitamin D status might influence stress fracture prevalence. Although stress fracture is considered a health risk for Soldiers undergoing military training, no study has documented vitamin D status in that population. This longitudinal study aimed to determine the effects of basic combat training (BCT) on 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in female Soldiers. Serum 25(OH)D and PTH were measured in 74 fasted Soldier volunteers before and after a 9 wk BCT course between August and October in Columbia, SC. In the total study population, 25(OH)D levels decreased (72.9 ± 30.0 vs 63.3 ± 19.8 nmol/L, p<0.05) and PTH levels increased ([mean ± SD] 36.2 ± 15.8 vs 47.5 ± 21.2 pg/mL, p<0.05) during BCT. Ethnicity affected changes in vitamin D status (group‐by‐time interaction, p<0.05); 25(OH)D decreased by 10 ± 27% (89.23 ± 29.3 vs 74.87 ± 17.0, p<0.05) in non‐Hispanic whites, 15 ± 18% (74.07 ± 15.1 vs 63.27 ± 14.2, p<0.05) in Hispanic whites, but did not change in non‐Hispanic blacks. Ethnicity did not affect BCT‐induced changes in PTH. These data indicate that vitamin D status in female Soldiers may decline during military training. Future studies should ascertain whether this decline affects bone health. Research supported by MRMC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2010
- Source ID
- 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.917.5
Entities
People
- Andrew J Young
- Harris R Lieberman
- J Philip Karl
- James P. Mcclung
- Jennifer C Rood
- Jennifer E Diaz
- Kelly W. Williams
- Nancy Ellen Andersen
- Sonya J. Cable
Organizations
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine