The physical demands of Royal Marine (RM) training are such that energy requirements are estimated to be 17572.8 kJ.d⁻¹⁽Reference Alexander, Allsopp and Pethybridge¹⁾(1 kcal=4.184 kJ). It has been hypothesised that a failure to meet this high-energy demand may influence training outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of energy intake on illness and injury in the Royal Marines; this is part of on-going programme of research being undertaken by the Institute of Naval Medicine examining the dietary intake, nutritional status and bone health of Royal Marines.

RM recruits commencing training at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines, Lympstone, Devon were given an initial study brief, after which 545 recruits from eleven Troops consented to participate in the study. Dietary intake was recorded using the Food Record Card (FRC)⁽Reference Davey, Delves and Allsopp²⁾ over 4 d (including one weekend day) at the start, middle and end of training.

Successful recruits consumed more energy at the middle of training than recruits who failed to complete training (16936.832±3966.432 kJ v. 15334.36±4589.848 kJ(1 kcal=4.184 kJ), respectively; P<0.05). Recruits reporting a high incidence of illness and/or injury were less likely to complete training. When illness and injury incidence were categorised into quartiles (Table 1), those with the highest illness rates were consuming less energy (as an absolute intake) at the middle of training than those with the lowest illness rates (P<0.05). There was a non-significant trend for a similar pattern with injury incidence (P=0.08). There were no relationships in the proportions of energy intake from carbohydrate, fat or protein relative to illness or injury rates.

Table 1. Daily energy intake relative to illness and injury prevalence

Note: *Significantly different to recruits in the lowest quartile for illnesses (P<0.05).

Energy intake during RM training should be actively encouraged to reduce illness and injury, and promote a successful training outcome. Further research is currently underway to examine the influence of previous lifestyle and nutrition on training outcomes, with particular emphasis on bone health.