Muscle glycogen in soldiers on different diets during military field manoeuvres

Severe skeletal muscle glycogen depletion has been previously reported for soldiers participating in field exercises. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the distribution of amplified food rations would reduce the extent of glycogen depletion during military field manoeuvres. Needle biopsy samples were obtained from the m. vastus lateralis of soldiers both before and immediately after their participation in 4.5 d of field exercises. Eight soldiers received normal rations while a second group of eight soldiers received rations which were amplified in both caloric value and the proportion of carbohydrates. Intramuscular glycogen concentrations before and after the manoeuvres averaged 120 and 55 mmol glucose units . kg-1, respectively. The group which received amplified rations did not exhibit glycogen levels significantly different from those using normal rations.