The Nutritional Condition of the Spanish Soldier: "Spain. Nutrition Survey of the Armed Forces, a Report by the Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defence 1958".

The study of the nutritional transition in Spain must combine sources concerning the health conditions and the nutritional profile of the population. Such an approximation to the issue is, as a rule, not possible until the two final decades of the 20th century. However, the report on the nutritional status of the Spanish army, undertaken by the American Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defence (ICNND) in 1958, combines both approaches. The report is based on the medical examination of 10727 army drafts. First, the article contextualised the report's sample geographically and demographically; second, it validated the variables used statistically; and third, it explored the relationship between the diseases diagnosed, the biomarkers yielded by blood and urine tests, and the diet. The main results were as follows: (a) the report confirmed that the military population under examination did not suffer from severe dietary shortcomings; (b) the sample presents a double bias, geographical (overrepresentation of southern provinces) and institutional (underrepresentation of the land forces).

Presentación del estudio médico y nutricional de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas realizado en 1958 por el Interdepartamental Commitee on Nutrition for National Defense de Estados Unidos / Presentation of a medical and nutritional study of the Spanish Armed Forces of 1958 conducted by the Interdepartamental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense of the United States of America

Introducción: los estudios de la transición nutricional y epidemiológica en España no parece que hayan utilizado el informe sobre el estado nutricional del Ejército español realizado en 1958 por el Interdepartamental Commitee on Nutririon for National Defense (ICNND) de Estados Unidos. Objetivo: el objetivo de este trabajo es presentar y examinar la metodología y resultados del Spain: Nutrition Survey of the Armed Forces (SNSAF). Materiales y métodos: examinar el planteamiento y el proceso de ejecución de la encuesta realizada a una muestra de 10.727 soldados españoles entre abril y junio de 1958. Analizar, en primer lugar, su representatividad y, en segundo, los resultados de los tres exámenes médicos y de los análisis bioquímicos practicados. Resultados: la correspondencia entre las enfermedades diagnosticadas y los niveles de micronutrientes estimados muestran que la población militar examinada no estaba afectada por ningún estado carencial grave. Excepto de vitamina A y de riboflavina, no se detectaron niveles deficientes de acuerdo a los estándares de valoración del ICNND. Conclusión: la conclusión del informe de que la nutrición de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas a finales de los años cincuenta era satisfactoria debería matizarse teniendo en cuenta cuatro potenciales factores de sesgo: la distribución geográfica y entre los tres Ejércitos de los soldados de la muestra, la mejora del estado nutricional producida durante el periodo del servicio militar y la proporción de jóvenes de las correspondientes generaciones excluidos del servicio y declarados prófugos

Introduction: studies of the nutritional and epidemiologic transition in Spain do not seem to have used the report "Spain: Nutrition Survey of the Armed Forces" (SNSAF) conducted in 1958 by the Interdepartamental Committee on Nutrition for National Defence (ICNND) of the United States of America. Objective: this article provides an introduction to this report with an assessment of its methodology and results. Materials and methods: examine the objectives, approach and process of implementation of the survey conducted on a sample of 10,727 Spanish soldiers from April to June in 1958. In the first place, it will be assessed its representativeness and, secondly, the published results of three clinical examinations and one biochemical examination practiced to the soldiers will be analysed. Results: the correspondence between the diagnosed diseases and the estimated micronutrient levels, both in the biochemical examination and in the analysis of diets, show that the military population examined was not affected by any serious deficiency condition. Except in vitamin A and riboflavin, in the other micronutrients no deficient levels were observed according to the ICNND standards. Conclusion: the final conclusion of SNAF report was that the nutrition of the Armed Forces of Spain was satisfactory. But, such statement should be qualified taking into account four possible factors of bias: the geographical distribution and the allocation of soldiers from the sample between the three armies. The improvement in the nutritional condition during the military service period and the proportion of youngsters called to the military service excluded from the service and declared fugitives

[Presentation of a medical and nutritional study of the Spanish Armed Forces of 1958 conducted by the Interdepartamental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense of the United States of America]. / Presentación del estudio médico y nutricional de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas realizado en 1958 por el Interdepartamental Commitee on Nutrition for National Defense de Estados Unidos.

INTRODUCTION: studies of the nutritional and epidemiologic transition in Spain do not seem to have used the report "Spain: Nutrition Survey of the Armed Forces" (SNSAF)" conducted in 1958 by the Interdepartamental Committee on Nutrition for National Defence (ICNND) of the United States of America. OBJECTIVE: this article provides an introduction to this report with an assessment of its methodology and results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: examine the objectives, approach and process of implementation of the survey conducted on a sample of 10,727 Spanish soldiers from April to June in 1958. In the first place, it will be assessed its representativeness and, secondly, the published results of three clinical examinations and one biochemical examination practiced to the soldiers will be analysed. RESULTS: the correspondence between the diagnosed diseases and the estimated micronutrient levels, both in the biochemical examination and in the analysis of diets, show that the military population examined was not affected by any serious deficiency condition. Except in vitamin A and riboflavin, in the other micronutrients no deficient levels were observed according to the ICNND standards. CONCLUSION: the final conclusion of SNAF report was that the nutrition of the Armed Forces of Spain was satisfactory. But, such statement should be qualified taking into account four possible factors of bias: the geographical distribution and the allocation of soldiers from the sample between the three armies. The improvement in the nutritional condition during the military service period and the proportion of youngsters called to the military service excluded from the service and declared fugitives.

Introducción: los estudios de la transición nutricional y epidemiológica en España no parece que hayan utilizado el informe sobre el estado nutricional del Ejército español realizado en 1958 por el Interdepartamental Commitee on Nutririon for National Defense (ICNND) de Estados Unidos.Objetivo: el objetivo de este trabajo es presentar y examinar la metodología y resultados del Spain: Nutrition Survey of the Armed Forces (SNSAF). Materiales y métodos: examinar el planteamiento y el proceso de ejecución de la encuesta realizada a una muestra de 10.727 soldados españoles entre abril y junio de 1958. Analizar, en primer lugar, su representatividad y, en segundo, los resultados de los tres exámenes médicos y de los análisis bioquímicos practicados.Resultados: la correspondencia entre las enfermedades diagnosticadas y los niveles de micronutrientes estimados muestran que la población militar examinada no estaba afectada por ningún estado carencial grave. Excepto de vitamina A y de riboflavina, no se detectaron niveles deficientes de acuerdo a los estándares de valoración del ICNND.Conclusión: la conclusión del informe de que la nutrición de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas a finales de los años cincuenta era satisfactoria debería matizarse teniendo en cuenta cuatro potenciales factores de sesgo: la distribución geográfica y entre los tres Ejércitos de los soldados de la muestra, la mejora del estado nutricional producida durante el periodo del servicio militar y la proporción de jóvenes de las correspondientes generaciones excluidos del servicio y declarados prófugos.