Energy and Nutrients Intake of Thai Active Duty Army Personnel at the Army Special Warfare Command Unit
Nantaporn Viravathana PhD*, Prapaisri Sirichakwal PhD**
Affiliation : * Department of Biochemistry, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, ** Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University
Objective : To determine the daily energy and nutrient intake of the active duty army personnel at the
Army Special Warfare Command (SWC) Unit during home stations.
Materials and Methods : A cross-sectional survey was carried out at the SWC unit in Lopburi province,
Central region of Thailand. One hundred and eight personnel, who were at home stations, volunteered
for participation in the present study. Three-day food records were used for evaluating nutrient intakes.
Dietary data were analysed using the Nutritionist III programme and expressed as mean and standard
deviation.
Results : All 108 active duty army personnel were men with the mean age of 37.0 years (SD 7.4). The
mean actual energy intake was 2,304 kcal/day (SD 645), which accounted for 109% of Dietary Reference
Intake for Thais (DRI). Most mean intakes of vitamins and minerals were above DRI levels, including
vitamin A, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C, and iron. However, their average intakes of vitamin B1 and
calcium were lower.
Conclusion : The present study demonstrated the undesirable intake patterns which may become significant
when intakes occur routinely or extend to longer periods and can adversely affect military readiness as
well as health. Further improvements in dietary intake for these personnel are needed.
Keywords : Dietary assessment, Nutrient intake, Healthy eating, Army personnel.
