Changing diet and supplement guidance in the UK Army to improve health and performance [REF2021]
Impact Summary for the General Public
In a series of UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) funded studies, Professor Walsh’s team at Bangor University has demonstrated that illness, injury, and underperformance during military training are significantly influenced by deficits in the soldiers’ diet. Subsequent field studies with the Army demonstrated the health and performance benefits of additional dietary energy and vitamin D intake. Consequently, the Army changed policy, implementing: 1) an energy-rich training supplement with all soldiers that participate in the arduous Infantry Battle School Courses; and 2) an oral vitamin D supplement with all recruits that complete initial training, and all personnel in the COVID support force.
Category of impact
- Health/Quality of life
- Policy and Public Services
Research outputs (6)
Supplementary Energy Increases Bone Formation during Arduous Military Training
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Vitamin D and the hepatitis B vaccine response: A prospective cohort study and a randomized, placebo-controlled oral vitamin D3 and simulated sunlight supplementation trial in healthy adults
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Influence of vitamin D supplementation by sunlight or oral D3 on exercise performance
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review