International society of sports nutrition position stand: tactical athlete nutrition

Abstract

This position stand aims to provide an evidence-based summary of the energy and nutritional demands of tactical athletes to promote optimal health and performance while keeping in mind the unique challenges faced due to work schedules, job demands, and austere environments. After a critical analysis of the literature, the following nutritional guidelines represent the position of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). General Recommendations Nutritional considerations should include the provision and timing of adequate calories, macronutrients, and fluid to meet daily needs as well as strategic nutritional supplementation to improve physical, cognitive, and occupational performance outcomes; reduce risk of injury, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease; reduce the potential for a fatal mistake; and promote occupational readiness. Military Recommendations Energy demands should be met by utilizing the Military Dietary Reference Intakes (MDRIs) established and codified in Army Regulation 40-25. Although research is somewhat limited, military personnel may also benefit from caffeine, creatine monohydrate, essential amino acids, protein, omega-3-fatty acids, beta-alanine, and L-tyrosine supplementation, especially during high-stress conditions. First Responder Recommendations Specific energy needs are unknown and may vary depending on occupation-specific tasks. It is likely the general caloric intake and macronutrient guidelines for recreational athletes or the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges for the general healthy adult population may benefit first responders. Strategies such as implementing wellness policies, setting up supportive food environments, encouraging healthier food systems, and using community resources to offer evidence-based nutrition classes are inexpensive and potentially meaningful ways to improve physical activity and diet habits. The following provides a more detailed overview of the literature and recommendations for these populations.

Estimating Metabolic Energy Expenditure During Level Running in Healthy, Military-Age Women and Men

“…The new RE3 level running component has immediate value for military nutrition applications (6,22,33). For instance, to determine appropriate dietary intake equivalent to energy demands, users can calculate kilocalories per minute instead of watts with the following equation: kcal•kg 21 •min 21 (22), providing extra utility for determining fluid requirements.…”

“…This ubiquity has inspired over a century of sports and exercise research focused on quantifying the rate of metabolic energy expenditure (Ṁ) during running (1–5,8–20,20–23,23,24,24–26,26,27,27–30,32,35–39,41–45,47,49–51,56,58,60,65–67,73,74,76,77,79,80). Precise Ṁ estimates are needed to optimize distance running performance (48) and nutritional interventions (33). Furthermore, safety recommendations for operating in extreme environments are contingent on the validity of these estimates, given the potential severity of hot and cold injuries (63,64).…”

Functional nutrition for the health of exercising individuals and elite sportspersons

“…As already indicated, it is important to have such nutritional strategies, to have sufficient energy substrates, based on the prospective training or competition of the sportspersons, along with sufficient protein support and other nutrients including the broad spectrum vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients like anti-oxidants, etc., to tackle the physiological stress load of the organism during the high intensity sustained training sessions and competitions of sportspersons. Muscle or ligament injuries during sustained physical activities could be due to improper or inadequate nutrition (Turnagöl et al, 2021), which may be either due to insufficient energy support and/or due to insufficient electrolyte support or due to improper protein ongoing synthesis support, due to short supply of either protein or energy for protein metabolism (Gonzalez et al, 2022). All these need to be planned very scientifically based on the prospective training session intensity, duration, and density and also keeping in view the sportsperson's metabolic adaptations concerning the several nutrients in general (Figure 2).…”

The Effect of β-Alanine Supplementation on Performance, Cognitive Function and Resiliency in Soldiers

“…Along with the physical characteristics, soldiers also require high cognitive function, often times making decisions under physical and mental stress and fatigue. Although the role of nutrition and dietary supplementation in improving physical performance has been extensively studied in both athletes and soldiers, the focus on psychological and cognitive performance improvements has lagged behind [ 5 ]. This review will specifically focus on the potential role that β-alanine supplementation has on soldier performance.…”