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Nutritional status assessment in semiclosed environments: ground-based and space flight studies in humansAdequate nutrition is critical during long-term spaceflight, as is the ability to easily monitor dietary intake. A comprehensive nutritional status assessment profile was designed for use before, during and after flight. It included assessment of both dietary intake and biochemical markers of nutritional status. A spaceflight food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed to evaluate intake of key nutrients during spaceflight. The nutritional status assessment protocol was evaluated during two ground-based closed-chamber studies (60 and 91 d; n = 4/study), and was implemented for two astronauts during 4-mo stays on the Mir space station. Ground-based studies indicated that the FFQ, administered daily or weekly, adequately estimated intake of key nutrients. Chamber subjects maintained prechamber energy intake and body weight. Astronauts tended to eat 40--50% of WHO-predicted energy requirements, and lost >10% of preflight body mass. Serum ferritin levels were lower after the chamber stays, despite adequate iron intake. Red blood cell folate concentrations were increased after the chamber studies. Vitamin D stores were decreased by > 40% on chamber egress and after spaceflight. Mir crew members had decreased levels of most nutritional indices, but these are difficult to interpret given the insufficient energy intake and loss of body mass. Spaceflight food systems can provide adequate intake of macronutrients, although, as expected, micronutrient intake is a concern for any closed or semiclosed food system. These data demonstrate the utility and importance of nutritional status assessment during spaceflight and of the FFQ during extended-duration spaceflight.
Document ID
20040112382
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Smith, S. M.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston TX United States)
Davis-Street, J. E.
Rice, B. L.
Nillen, J. L.
Gillman, P. L.
Block, G.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: The Journal of nutrition
Volume: 131
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0022-3166
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Flight Experiment
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
Mir Project
NASA Center JSC
manned
long duration

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