title: Nutrition in space: lessons from the past applied to the future.
abstract: From the basic impact of nutrient intake on health maintenance to the psychosocial benefits of mealtime, the role of nutrition in space is evident. In this discussion, dietary intake data from three space programs, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Skylab, are presented. Data examination reveals that energy and fluid intakes are almost always lower than predicted. Nutrition in space has many areas of impact, including provision of required nutrients and maintenance of endocrine, immune, and musculoskeletal systems. Long-duration missions will require quantitation of nutrient requirements for maintenance of health and protection against the effects of microgravity. Psychosocial aspects of nutrition will also be important for more productive missions and crew morale. Realization of the full role of nutrition during spaceflight is critical for the success of extended-duration missions. Research conducted to determine the impact of spaceflight on human physiology and subsequent nutritional requirements will also have direct and indirect applications in Earth-based nutrition research.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Operations and Research Branch, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bourland
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D018472:Hypogravity / Q000009:adverse effects; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D013026:Space Flight