Page 101 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2015

An Ongoing Series

US Military Dietary Protein Recommendations

A Simple But Often Confused Topic

Stefan M. Pasiakos, PhD; John J. Sepowitz, MS, RD; Patricia A. Deuster, PhD, MPH

ABSTRACT
Military recommendations for dietary protein are based Introduction
on the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.8g Dietary protein is essential, as it provides the amino ac-
of protein per kilogram of body mass (BM) established ids required for all structural, regulatory, transport, and
by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine other proteins in the body. Requirements for protein
(IOM) of the National Academies. The RDA is likely are based on the amount necessary to prevent the loss
adequate for most military personnel, particularly when of muscle mass and, according to the Food and Nutri-
activity levels are low and energy intake is sufficient tion Board, Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National
to maintain a healthy body weight. However, military Academies, that amount (the recommended dietary al-
recommendations account for periods of increased lowance [RDA]) is 0.8g of protein per kilogram of body
metabolic demand during training and real-world op- mass (BM). However, consuming the RDA may be in-
1
erations, especially those that produce an energy defi- adequate for some individuals, particularly those with
cit. Under those conditions, protein requirements are physically challenging occupations, such as when US
higher (1.5–2.0g/kg BM) in an attempt to attenuate Special Operations Forces (SOF) sustain high levels of
the unavoidable loss of muscle mass that occurs dur- physical activity during training and combat operations
ing prolonged or repeated exposure to energy deficits. where food supplies and the time available to eat are
Whole foods are recommended as the primary method limited, which can cause significant energy deficits.
2,3
to consume more protein, although there are likely op- Consuming a higher-protein diet (more than the RDA)
erational scenarios where whole foods are not avail- is recommended for these individuals to prevent the loss
able and consuming supplemental protein at effective, of muscle mass.
not excessive, doses (20–25g or 0.25–0.3g/kg BM per
meal) is recommended. Despite these evidence-based, Americans, including most military personnel, generally
condition-specific recommendations, the necessity of consume more than enough protein to meet individual
protein supplements and the requirements and rationale requirements. In a recent 10-year prospective analysis,
4,5
for consuming higher-protein diets are often misunder- more than half of the healthy adult population studied
stood, resulting in an overconsumption of dietary pro- reported consuming 50% to 100% more protein than
tein and unsubstantiated health-related concerns. This the RDA. The higher-protein diets reported (approxi-
4
review will provide the basis of the US military dietary mately 1.0–1.7g/kg BM) are consistent with current US
protein requirements and highlight common misconcep- military and sports nutrition recommendations by the
tions associated with the amount and safety of protein American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and have
in military diets.
been associated with lower adiposity and improved lev-
els of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Neverthe-
2,6
Keywords: military, US Army Special Operations Forces, less, the efficacy and safety of healthy people adhering
sustained operations, whey protein, supplement, military to a diet higher in protein than recommended can be eas-
dietary reference intakes
ily misinterpreted and misunderstood. For example, ac-
tive men, including many SOF personnel, overconsume

89