Best check your urine, says a guide to fluid intake, accompanying a Government decision to add an isotonic drink to the Army’s ration packs.
The Commanders’ Guide to Fluid intake during military operations in the heat provides detailed information on the dangers and consequences of dehydration, identifies the major causes of dehydration and offers guidance on how to prevent dehydration in the heat whilst performing military activities. The topics covered are causes of dehydration, how dehydration affects performance, whether dehydration can be avoided and drinking strategies for minimising dehydration. It was written by QinetiQ and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) on behalf of the DLO, with input from external academics and nutritionists.
Body fuel
Lucozade Sport Body Fuel was chosen following trials of isotonic drinks. The DLO will be adding the powdered mix to 24-hour operational packs from April 2006. The drink comes in two varieties, orange and lemon. Isotonic drinks enable troops to hydrate more quickly because they increase the rate of fluid uptake by the body, improve palatability and maintain the central drive to drink thereby helping to ensure the replacement of lost body fluids.
In response to a product requirement specification originally developed by QinetiQ on behalf of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), British troops taking part in military operations will soon have a new weapon in their armoury – isotonic drinks.
Announcing the award of the £1.5m, three year enabling contract to GlaxoSmithKline to produce a Lucozade Sport Body Fuel drink for the 24-hour Operational Ration Pack, Secretary of State for Defence John Reid said: "For a long time we have been very aware of the importance of getting the right combination of energy and nutrients from the food our soldiers eat, but it is only recently that we have started to examine the science behind what they drink. Fatigue and dehydration both sap energy, reducing the effectiveness of fighting forces when they are deployed on strenuous operations. The new isotonic drink will help combat this."
Dr Reid also welcomed the introduction of a new Commanders’ Guide to fluid intake during military operations in the heat. Produced as part of MOD’s Human Capability Research Programme and written by QinetiQ and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) with input from external academics and nutritionists, it is published by the DLO and is expected to become essential reading for commanders preparing to take troops on operations.
Having established the specification and requirements for the isotonic drink, a tender was put out by the DLO to potential suppliers and products submitted. These were evaluated by an independent laboratory against QinetiQ’s specification to assure impartiality and that the most appropriate product as being announced was sourced.
The Surgeon General, Surgeon Vice Admiral Ian Jenkins said: "Dehydration and the effects of working in hot climates can be a serious problem for military personnel. Commanders need to be confident that their troops are healthy and that they can still do their job. An initiative that raises awareness of the challenges of operating in hot environments is to be welcomed." Brigadier David Martin of the DLO’s Defence Catering Group added: "We all know from watching top athletes the importance they place on nutrition and hydration. MOD is now applying the scientific lessons learnt in this field to the food and drink our soldiers, sailors and air force personnel consume. With British forces taking part in operations in hot and dry environments like Afghanistan and Iraq, the importance of this guide cannot be underestimated." The DLO and QinetiQ have also created a fact sheet based on the guide, called 10 Top Tips on Hydration.
