Nutrition Issues for Space Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-06-A1.2.01
- Author
Dr. Scott Smith, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Johnson Space Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Sara Zwart, Universities Space Research Association, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Optimal nutrition will be critical for crew members who embark on space exploration missions. Nutritional assessment provides an opportunity to ensure that crewmembers begin their missions in optimal nutritional status, to document changes during a mission and , if necessary, to provide intervention to maintain that status throughout the mission, and to assesses changes after landing in order to facilitate the return to their normal status as soon as possible after landing. We report here the findings from our nutritional assessment of the US astronauts who participated in the first eight International Space Station (ISS) missions.
The limited data pertaining to nutritional alterations during space flight suggest that the nutritional status of astronauts is compromised during and after flight. Inadequate dietary intake and weight loss are often considered hallmarks of space flight. However, some crews have maintained intake at 85-95
Hematocrit, serum iron, ferritin saturation, and transferrin were decreased and serum ferritin was increased (P < 0.05) after ISS flights. The finding that other acute-phase proteins (e.g., ferritin) were generally unchanged after flight suggests that the changes in iron metabolism were unlikely to be solely a result of an inflammatory response. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine concentration was greater and red blood cell superoxide dismutase was less after long-duration space flight (P < 0.05), indicating increased oxidative damage.
Bone loss during space flight remains one of the most critical challenges to astronaut health on space exploration missions. An increase in bone resorption of ISS crew members after flight was indicated by several markers. Vitamin D status also remains a challenge for long-duration space travelers, who lack ultraviolet light exposure in the shielded craft.
These data provide evidence that bone loss, compromised vitamin status, and oxidative damage are the critical nutritional concerns for space travelers. Other nutrient issues exist, including concerns about the stability of nutrients in the food system, which are exposed to long-term storage and radiation during flight. Defining nutrient requirements, and being able to provide and maintain those nutrients on exploration missions, will be critical for maintaining crew member health.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-A1.2.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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