Influence of the skeletal muscle mass growth on iron metabolism indicators among conscripted soldiers during the period adaptation to the settings of military service

Thousands of young men are conscripted for military service with various nutritional status and physical fitness condition every year. The adaptation of conscripted soldiers to the factors of military service occurs at three levels: physiological, psychological and social. The purpose of the study was to assess the dynamic changes of body structure parameters in conscripted soldiers during 6 months of service by conscription and to determine the effect of skeletal muscle mass growth on iron metabolism during adaptation to military service conditions. A prospective observational study involved 145 conscripted soldiers from one of the military units after informed consent. The study was performed from the moment of conscription for military service in 3 stages with an interval of 3 months using a four-component model of body structure and a four-component model of iron metabolism. The skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue mass and were determined caliperometrically. Hematological and biochemical parameters of iron metabolism were assessed. Dynamic changes and types of growth of the skeletal muscle mass, as well as changes in the parameters of iron metabolism have been obtained. The body weight of conscripted soldiers changes slightly within 6 months from the moment of conscription. At the same time internal changes occurred in the structure of the body of conscripted soldiers due to an increase in skeletal muscle mass and a decrease in the mass of adipose tissues. The types of skeletal muscle mass growth were determined among conscripted soldiers. There were an increase in skeletal muscle mass and hemoglobin fund to provide them oxygen by the influence of increased physical loading. It led to a decrease in iron stores, estimated by serum ferritin, and signs became more pronounced of iron deficiency erythropoiesis, which were determined in erythrocyte indexes. These combined changes can be assessed as functional iron deficiency or iron deficiency without anemia.

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