NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Skylab nutritional studiesPrecise nutritional specifications arising from both physiological and experimental requirements necessitated a comprehensive study of the chemical composition of the Skylab food supply. Each of the approximately 70 different food items was analyzed for digestible and nondigestible carbohydrate, and for protein, amino acids, fat, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Menus were formulated to provide at least the National Research Council's Recommended Dietary Allowance of all essential nutrients and, in addition, to provide constant daily intakes of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and protein. In general, the crewmembers adhered to their programmed menus. The ability to swallow and digest food was unaffected by prolonged weightlessness. Taste acuity also appeared to be undiminished inflight. The bone and muscle changes which occurred in previous flights were more pronounced in Skylab. It is concluded that these changes did not develop as a result of nutritional deficit. If such changes are nutritionally related, they point to the existence of nutritional requirements in weightlessness which differ quantitatively from those observed on earth.
Document ID
19760059417
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rambaut, P. C.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Smith, M. C., Jr.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Tex., United States)
Stadler, C. R.
(Technology, Inc. Houston, Tex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1976
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Meeting Information
Meeting: COSPAR, Plenary Meeting
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Start Date: June 8, 1976
End Date: June 19, 1976
Sponsors: COSPAR
Accession Number
76A42383
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available