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Nutrition and Metabolism

Encyclopedia of Bioastronautics
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Definition

As it pertains to space travelers, the term “nutrition” encompasses many things, including the body’s basic need for nutrients. The amounts of nutrients required for optimal health can be affected by aspects of the environment, including gravity, radiation, temperature, and humidity. Nutritional requirements can be further altered by effects of microgravity on the body’s absorption, processing (metabolism), and excretion of nutrients. “Nutrition and metabolism” also encompasses the interaction of nutrients with the biochemical pathways (metabolism) by which physiological systems, such as bone, muscle, and cardiovascular systems, and even behavior and performance, accomplish their functions.

Introduction

For exploration, having enough food is important, but having the right nutrition is critical. History provides many examples of how insufficient knowledge of or planning for nutrition led to disastrous results. Scurvy among sailors is a common example, and while many people...

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References

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Correspondence to Sara R Zwart .

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Zwart, S.R., Smith, S.M. (2018). Nutrition and Metabolism. In: Young, L., Sutton, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Bioastronautics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_53-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_53-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-10152-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-10152-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Nutrition and Metabolism
    Published:
    08 December 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_53-3

  2. Nutrition and Metabolism
    Published:
    06 April 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_53-2

  3. Original

    Nutrition and Metabolism
    Published:
    01 August 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_53-1