Evaluation of nutrition optimization for military personnel in Arctic with a multicomponent product produced using critically low-temperature technology: cohort study

INTRODUCTION. There is an increased need and insufficient consumption of vitamins and minerals in the conditions of the Far North.

OBJECTIVE. Evaluate the effectiveness of optimizing the nutrition of military personnel in the Arctic with a multicomponent product produced by a critically low-temperature technology of vitamin and mineral saturation of the body.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. Vitamins (B₉, B₁₂ and D - 25-hydroxyvitamin D each) and minerals (K, Na, Ca ionized and total, P, Mg, Fe) were determined in blood samples from servicemen. The main group (n = 30) took the product produced by critically low-temperature technology for 21 days (declaration of conformity of the EAEC: No. RU D-RU. RA03.B69039/24 of 19.04.2024); comparisons (n = 28) took the usual diet. The content of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals was determined by the calculation method.

RESULTS. Deficiency of vitamin B₉ was revealed (in comparison groups - basic in 32,1-53,3 %); iron was in the lower zone of reference value, deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D (in 70,0-93,3 %), ionized calcium (in 35,7 % and 16,7 %), magnesium (in 20,0 % and 16,7 %); phosphorus at the level of lower limit of norm. The effectiveness of the multicomponent product in nutrition was manifested by the presence of statistically significant differences between the initial indicators and after its intake - an increase in vitamins (B₉ - by 9.9 %, B₁₂ - by 15.2 %, 25OH vitamin D - by 13.4 %), minerals (Ca ionized - by 5.0 %, Ca total - by 6.0 %, P - by 11.1 %, Fe - by 29.8 %, Mg - by 2.6 %).

DISCUSSION. In the North, the issuance of vitamin preparations is not efficient enough, nutrition with products from the local raw material base makes it difficult to implement; the vitamin-mineral complex developed to fill the deficiency of vitamins and minerals has not been tested in the diet of servicemen. The product from vegetable raw materials and eggshells, in addition to vitamins, minerals and macronutrients, contains components that perform the functions of exogenous regulators of metabolism.

CONCLUSION. Insufficient supply of vitamins D, B₉ and minerals indicated signs of folium-deficiency anemia and possible disorder of phosphorus-calcium-magnesium metabolism. Concentrated food product provides nutrients that increase vitamin and mineral saturation of the body.

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