The dietary intake and nutritional status of military veterans: A systematic literature review

Military veterans (ex-serving members of the Armed Services) experience unique physical and mental health challenges, with diet playing a critical role in chronic disease management and well-being. This review aimed to evaluate veterans’ dietary intake against nutrient reference values (NRV) relevant to age and sex. A systematic search of CINAHL, MedLine, Scopus, PubMed and AMED (January 2024, updated March 2025) identified 1268 records; thirty-three studies (n 654 323) met inclusion criteria. Eligible designs included cross-sectional, cohort, quasi-experimental and randomised controlled trials. Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs critical appraisal checklist, indicating low risk of bias. Across studies, veterans’ intake of fibre, folate, vitamin D, Ca, potassium, fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and legumes was consistently inadequate, with overall diet quality rated poor to average. BMI ranged widely, and veterans reported high rates of mood disorders and low quality-of-life scores. These findings highlight key nutrients and dietary patterns that might be considered and targeted in dietary and lifestyle interventions for promoting the physical and mental health of veterans.