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Metabolism and Nutrition

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Space Physiology and Medicine

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Abstract

Nutritional requirements for crew members on extended flights have been derived largely by extrapolation from ground-based research, from the extensive metabolic studies conducted in the Skylab program, from measurements conducted on Spacelab missions, the Space Shuttle, the Russian space station Mir, and the International Space Station (ISS). Understanding the ways in which nutrients are metabolized by crew members under the unique conditions of space flight is essential for maintaining long-term crew health, particularly the development of strategies for preventing undesirable changes in lean body mass so as to maintain bone-mineral integrity and muscle performance. Such strategies must include the consumption of sufficient amounts of energy and protein, among other nutrients. Because foods and the food systems to be flown in space must meet the unusual constraints associated with space craft and space flight conditions, this chapter opens with descriptions of the food systems developed for the various U.S. space programs, including the ISS. Next follows an outline of planned food systems for vehicles to be used for return for very long-duration space flights, beyond low Earth orbit, and trips to other solar system bodies. The remainder of the chapter reviews the knowledge collected to date on nutrition.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX, 77058, USA

    Helen W. Lane PhD, RD

  2. Nutritional Biochemistry, Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Mail Code SK3, Houston, TX, 77058, USA

    Scott M. Smith PhD

  3. Space Food Systems Lab, Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Mail Code SF4, Houston, TX, 77058, USA

    Vickie L. Kloeris BS, MS

Authors
  1. Helen W. Lane PhD, RD
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  2. Scott M. Smith PhD
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  3. Vickie L. Kloeris BS, MS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen W. Lane PhD, RD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia, USA

    Arnauld E. Nicogossian

  2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, USA

    Richard S. Williams

  3. NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Barrington, Rhode Island, USA

    Carolyn L. Huntoon

  4. Department of Family and Community Medicine School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Charles R. Doarn

  5. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, USA

    James D. Polk

  6. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, USA

    Victor S. Schneider

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Lane, H.W., Smith, S.M., Kloeris, V.L. (2016). Metabolism and Nutrition. In: Nicogossian, A., Williams, R., Huntoon, C., Doarn, C., Polk, J., Schneider, V. (eds) Space Physiology and Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6652-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6652-3_11

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