MET-DEF

Metabolic Defense

A research program of the Samueli Institute

Dietary and nutritional supplements (DNS) have become a widely used form of alternative medicine in the United States.  Whether taken as capsules or liquids, DNS provide essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, or herbs.  Numerous surveys have found that as many as seven of 10 Americans use supplements regularly, and surveys of military special-forces units report that the use of over-the-counter supplements may exceed 85 percent.

Scientific research on the safety, efficacy and mechanisms of DNS in general,however, remains lacking. In the military setting, even less information is available on their use relating to readiness, performance, and the incidence of disease. These considerations, specified in a recent Congressional report, prompted the Samueli Institute to propose a series of studies on the use of dietary and nutritional supplements in the military.  Working with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, the Institute launched a research program, Metabolic Defense—named thus because DNS marshal the body’s own metabolic processes to defend itself against the effects of illness or injury.

Goal:

             Establish and administer the premier national research program on DNS use as it relates to military personnel and operations. 

Objectives:

• To assess the use of DNS by military personnel
• To develop processes for evaluating risks and benefits of DNS in military personnel
• To establish a strategy for the systematic evaluation of DNS targeted to specific health and performance needs

Application to the Military:

Dietary and nutritional supplements are widely used by both active duty and dependent populations in the military.  DNS are largely self-administered and unsupervised, and a number of them used by active duty personnel may be unsafe, interact with other treatments, or affect service member performance.

Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or non-battle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them.  Available data suggests that as many as two thirds of all military service members currently use one or more DNS, and their use is often undisclosed.

This Institute study will systematically identify and investigate use of dietary and nutritional supplements for enhancing and maintaining military personnel health and readiness throughout the lifecycle of the service member.

Research Partners Include:

• U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
• Institute of Medicine
• National Institutes of Health
• National Academy of Sciences