Energy availability and nutrition during a Special Force Qualification Course (Q-Course)

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Military Nutrition
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Special Forces (SF) require high energy due to physically demanding operations.
• Optimizing nutrition is critical for SF mission success.
• This study assessed energy availability and nutrition during a Belgian SF Qualification Course (Q-Course).

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate energy availability and nutritional intake during a Belgian SF Q-Course.
• To identify potential nutritional shortfalls in elite military personnel.
• To inform strategies for optimizing SF performance through nutrition.

Main Methods:

• 21 participants meticulously recorded food and beverage intake over four days.
• Energy expenditure was quantified using accelerometers.
• Body composition (fat mass) was measured via quadripolar impedance analysis.

Main Results:

• Mean total energy expenditure was 4926 kcal/day.
• Mean total energy consumption was 4186 kcal/day, resulting in a negative energy balance.
• Mean energy availability was 17 kcal/kg fat-free mass/day, with significant interindividual variation.

Conclusions:

• Energy intake during the Q-Course was suboptimal, evidenced by negative energy balance and low energy availability.
• High variability in energy intake among SF members was observed.
• There is a clear need for enhanced nutritional education for SF personnel.