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Women beginning training with poor vitamin D status injury rates and optimize health and performance.
are particularly vulnerable.” “Being a warfighter is a unique occupation with very
These injuries not only impact soldier readiness, but cause limited civilian counterparts,” Muza said. “To effectively
up to 60 percent of those suffering from stress fractures to and efficiently provide the warfighter with the methods
drop out of the military. and means to optimize and sustain their health and per-
Years of nutrition research and field studies by USARIEM formance requires a research and development community
scientists have demonstrated that higher levels of calcium that understands warfighters’ operational environment.
and vitamin D in the body increase bone density in response USARIEM has a highly educated and innovative science
to training. Eating the calcium and vitamin D-fortified Per- and technology staff with the knowledge and experience
formance Readiness Bar supports a recruit’s bone health to provide preventative medicine products customized to
and reduces injury risk. the warfighter’s requirements.”
“Our test soldiers ate these bars each evening,” McClung —GFS
said, adding that eating the bars re-
inforces education for choosing the
right foods and learning when to con-
sume them for the best performance.
“We observed marked improvements
in their nutritional status and bone
health. An added benefit may be better
performance during physical training
before the next morning’s breakfast.”
Researchers also consider eating the
bar to be more appealing compared
with swallowing vitamin and supple-
ment pills. “Research showed compli-
ance was better when calcium and
vitamin D were provided in a fortified
bar,” said Army Maj. Kayla Ramotar,
dietitian with the Army’s Training and
Doctrine Command, which oversees all
initial military training for the Army.
“Trainees don’t get a lot of treats dur-
ing basic training, and since this bar
is made of chocolate, we know com-
pliance won’t be an issue. It’s a lot
more enticing than having to swallow
a bunch of pills.”
USARIEM collaborated in devel-
oping the Performance Readiness Bar
with the Combat Feeding Directorate at
the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research,
Development and Engineering Center.
USARIEM demonstrated the Perfor-
mance Readiness Bar earlier last year
during the Department of Defense
(DoD) Lab Day at the Pentagon on
May 18 by offering samples to visitors.
USARIEM was among 14 joint medi-
cal exhibits displaying products and
research to demonstrate how these
DoD medical labs support military
personnel during training and on
the battlefield.
The annual DoD Lab Days showcase
relevant military research that is criti-
cal to the health and well-being of the
nation’s warfighter, as well solutions
Army medical labs provide to reduce
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