Assessment of micronutrient levels in the military personnel serving in various climatic zones of Russia

Abstract

The lack of vitamins and minerals in the body contributes to the development of acquired deficient conditions. The study was aimed to assess micronutrient levels in the military personnel serving in various climatic zones of Russia. Plasma levels of vitamins (D based on 25(OH)D, B12, В9) and minerals (K, Na, total and ionized Ca, P, Mg, Fe), working and nutritional conditions were determined in servicemen in the Arctic (n = 54), Subarctic (n = 57), and temporary climate (n = 58) zones. The 25(OH)D levels were 24.06 ± 6.95, 21.5 ± 12.1(р1–2 = 0.003), and 27.2 ± 15.2 (р1–2 = 0.423, р1–3 = 0.032) ng/ml; deficiency and insufficiency were revealed in 82.3, 86.5, and 63.8% of military personnel. The cobalamin levels were 96.46 ± 20.6, 111.7 ± 59.4 (р1–2 = 0.046), and 125.7 ± 63.2 (р1–2 = 0.002, р1–3 = 0.334) pmol/L; the values below 148 pg/mL were reported for 100.0, 73.6, and 67.2% of surveyed individuals. The folate levels were 3.4 ± 0.4, 3.52 ± 1.54 (р1–2 = 0.657), and 6.49 ± 6.21 (р1–2 = 0.001, р1–3 = 0.009) ng/mL; the decreased levels were reported for 89.8, 81.3, and 44.8% of military personnel. The ionized calcium levels were decreased in 29.4, 50.0, and 67.2% of surveyed individuals, while the iron levels were decreased in 2.0, 1.9, and 3.4%. Elevated potassium (23.5, 29.6, and 8.6%), sodium (32.7 and 27.6% of individuals serving in the Subarctic and temporary climate zones) and total calcium (42.6% of individuals serving in the Subarctic zone) levels were reported. In the Arctic zone, the servicemen worked indoors and outdoors (heavy labour), while in the Subarctic and temporary climate zones they worked indoors (hard labour). In the Arctic zone, meals were organized consisting of the delivered canned foods (general military ration, 4466.7 ± 230.7 kcal/day), while in other zones it was homemade food with the disturbed eating pattern, inadequate consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. The study updates the directions for prevention of health problems in the military personnel serving in the extreme habitat and working conditions: estimation of body’s vitamin and mineral balance; optimization of the diet with the vegetable protein food products; raising awareness about the issues of individual diet and the use of vitamin and mineral supplements; developing formulations of multicomponent food products for adjustment of body’s vitamin and mineral balance.