Countermeasures

1
Countermeasures Food and Nutrition
2
What Special Nutritional Requirements Do
Astronauts Have During Space Flight?
3
Overview

• Logistical Considerations
• Physiological Considerations
• Weight Loss in Space
• Muscles and Bones
• Fluid Loss
• Radiation
• Current Dietary Strategies

4
Logistical Considerations

• Scheduling
• Storage
• Variety
• Changes in Physical Properties
• Preparation

5
Physiological Considerations

• Stress
• SMS
• Changes in Taste and Smell
• Altered Metabolic Requirements
• Nutrition Absorption
• Mineral Balance
• Psychological Issues

6
Weight Loss in Space

• Suppressed appetite among astronauts has been
  observed for decades.
• It is also observed in rats.
• It is also observed in rats in hypergravity.
• Possible alteration of Leptin Regulatory Pathways

7
Weight Loss in Space
How do we measure weight loss in space?

• Design a scale for microgravity...

8
Muscles

• There is a general decrease in muscle protein.
  Causes include
• Altered Energy Requirements
• Muscle remodeling
• Metabolic Stress

9
Bones

• UV Light Activation of Vitamin D is Absent
• Excessive Calcium Resorption leads to Excretion
  of Calcium
• Increased Dietary Calcium may not be the Answer.

10
Fluid Loss

• Headward Fluid Shift leads to excessive excretion
• This can cause dehydration upon return to Earth
• Fluid Loading is recommended prior to return to
  Earth

11
Radiation

• Ionizing Radiation form Oxidants within the Body.
• These Oxidants are Partly Responsible for DNA
  Damage.
• Increasing Antioxidant Consumption may Alleviate
  some of the Negative Effects of Radiation.
• Vitamin A, beta carotine, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

12
Current Dietary Strategies

• Maintain Normal Caloric Intake
• Reduced Fat
• Increased Carbohydrates
• Increased Protein
• Decreased Fiber

13
Current Dietary Strategies

• 30-day Rotating Schedule of Foods
• Increase Variety
• Foods may be prepared through
• Rehydration
• Microwave Oven
• Ready-to-Go Snacks
• Increased Push to Off-the-Shelf Foods
• Appeal to Multiple Cultures

14
Beer, Soda, and Wine
What are the fundamental challenges of drinking
beer, soda, and wine in microgravity? Is it
possible to brew beer in space?
15
The End