Food and beverages during a military exercise
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN93275136 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN93275136 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | Belgian Defence |
| Funder | Belgian Defence |
- Submission date
- 17/09/2024
- Registration date
- 19/09/2024
- Last edited
- 19/09/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The study aims to determine how soldiers feed and hydrate themselves before, during and after a military operation. Optimal nutrition and hydration status will support physical performance, while dehydration can lead to a loss of endurance capacity and hyperthermia.
Who can participate?
Male military paratroopers aged between 20 and 30 years, participating in a military operation of 1 week in rough conditions
What does the study involve?
1. Assessing body fat mass and body muscle mass with a BodyScan (Tanita MC780) every morning for 7 days
2. Assessing urine density with a refractometer every morning for 7 days
3. Assessing energy expenditure and sleep with an accelerometer for 7 days
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The results will be used to develop recommendations to optimize the physical performance and living conditions of military personnel during military operations. Individual results will be discussed with the participants.
Where is the study run from?
Belgian Defence
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2018 to December 2024
Who is funding the study?
Belgian Defence
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Dr Patrick Mullie, Patrick.mullie@mil.be
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
Eversestraat 1
Evere
1140
Belgium
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-5592-3169 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +32 (0)475809478 |
| patrick.mullie@mil.be |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre observational cross-sectional study |
| Secondary study design | Cross sectional study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Energy availability, hydration and nutrition in army men during field training |
| Study acronym | ENAV |
| Study objectives | The study aims to determine how soldiers feed and hydrate themselves before, during and after a military operation. Optimal nutrition and hydration status will support physical performance, while dehydration can lead to a loss of endurance capacity and hyperthermia. The selected population consists of military personnel during military operations. Participants will be required to complete the following steps: 1. Assessing anthropometric data with a BodyScan (Tanita MC780) 2. Assessing urine density with a refractometer 3. Assessing energy expenditure and sleep with an accelerometer |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 11/07/2018, Ethics Committee VUB Brussels (Laarbeeklaan 101, Brussels, 1050, Belgium; +32 (0)24775584; commissie.ethiek@uzbrussel.be), ref: B.U.N. 143201836602 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Nutrition and dehydration during military operations |
| Intervention | It is an observational study, so there is no intervention. The researchers plan to do three assessments, i.e., BodyScan with a Tanita to assess body composition, assess daily urine density and assess energy expenditure with an accelerometer-type actigraph. This will be done during 1 week, with no further follow-up. This data will help make recommendations for military men during exercises and operations. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Relative and absolute body fat mass and body muscle mass (kg-percent) measured with impedance, i.e., with an MC780 Tanita Body Scale, every morning for 1 week |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
There are no secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 03/12/2024 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 20 Years |
| Upper age limit | 30 Years |
| Sex | Male |
| Target sample size at registration | 30 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Male 2. Aged between 20 and 30 years 3. Military personnel 4. During a military operation in Hungary |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Female 2. Aged above 30 years |
| Date of first enrolment | 23/11/2024 |
| Date of final enrolment | 23/11/2024 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Belgium
Study participating centre
Tielen
2460
Belgium
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Prof. Patrick Mullie (patrick.mullie@mil.be) |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
18/09/2024: Study's existence confirmed by Ethics Committee VUB Brussels.
