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Table 4 Adjusted logistic regression models predicting changes in supplement use [OR (95% CI)]

From: Self-reported dietary supplement use in deployed United States service members pre-deployment vs. during deployment, Afghanistan, 2013–2014

Predictor variables

Decrease use

Increase use

Sex (vs. female)

 Male

0.99 (0.46-2.14)

1.07 (0.63-1.83)

Age (vs. 34 or older)

 17-34

1.36 (0.62-3.00)

1.41 (0.84-2.40)

Race (vs. Caucasian)

 African American

1.19 (0.50-2.85)

1.10 (0.63-1.91)

 Hispanic

1.77 (0.76-4.13)

1.01 (0.59-1.74)

 Asian/other

1.02 (0.37-2.87)

0.68 (0.36-1.28)

Education (vs. high school diploma)

 Some college

0.93 (0.29-2.96)

0.86 (0.47-1.58)

 Bachelor’s degree

1.45 (0.40-5.17)

0.80 (0.39-1.63)

 Master’s/PhD

3.32 (1.17-9.40)

0.72 (0.26-1.99)

Branch (vs. Army)

 Air Force

0.80 (0.39-1.63)

1.75 (1.12-2.75)

 Navy, Marines, or other

5.16 (0.53-49.98)

0.59 (0.09-3.96)

Rank (vs. officer)

 Junior Enlisted

2.01 (0.68-5.93)

0.66 (0.33-1.32)

 Senior Enlisted

1.82 (0.69-4.83)

0.62 (0.32-1.20)

Deployment length (vs. 0-3 months)

 4-6 months

0.58 (0.26-1.29)

0.99 (0.63-1.56)

  > 6 months

0.77 (0.32-1.87)

0.86 (0.51-1.44)

Military Occupational Specialty (vs. combat arms)

 Combat support

0.66 (0.21-2.07)

1.59 (0.87-2.91)

 Combat service support

0.42 (0.13-1.30)

1.03 (0.56-1.90)

Requested education

 Before deployment

3.47 (1.66-7.26)

0.40 (0.23-0.68)

 During deployment

0.40 (0.15-1.07)

2.43 (1.42-4.16)

Received education

 Before deployment

3.28 (1.09-9.90)

0.16 (0.09-0.26)

 During deployment

0.58 (0.27-1.23)

1.95 (1.24-3.06)

Sufficient education received

0.58 (0.18-1.83)

0.78 (0.39-1.55)

Reasons for using supplements (during deployment)

 Boost energy

0.31 (0.13-0.69)

0.96 (0.64-1.46)

 Enhance performance

0.46 (0.19-1.16)

1.24 (0.79-1.93)

 Improve health

0.11 (0.05-0.24)

0.73 (0.48-1.11)

 Improve mental health

3.78 (1.00-14.32)

0.98 (0.54-1.80)

 Decrease fat

1.61 (0.57-4.55)

0.91 (0.54-1.52)

 Lose weight

0.18 (0.04-0.81)

1.47 (0.85-2.54)

 Gain muscle strength

0.36 (0.16-0.82)

1.81 (1.11-2.94)

 Gain muscle mass

0.33 (0.12-0.88)

1.34 (0.85-2.12)

 Meal replacement

0.28 (0.06-1.35)

1.92 (1.06-3.11)

  1. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used
  2. Participants who reported no supplement use before and during deployment (n = 595, 35% of total sample) and those who were missing at least one response on frequency of supplement use (n = 22, 1% of total sample) were excluded from the above analyses. Some demographic categories have been combined due to low counts