Space nutrition: the key role of nutrition in human space flight

From the basic impact of nutrient intake on health maintenance to the psychosocial benefits of mealtime, great advancements in nutritional sciences for support of human space travel have occurred over the past 50 years. Nutrition in space has many areas of impact, including provision of required nutrients and maintenance of endocrine, immune, and musculoskeletal systems. It is affected by environmental conditions such as radiation, temperature, and atmospheric pressures, and these are reviewed. Nutrition with respect to space flight is closely interconnected with other life sciences research disciplines including the study of hematology, immunology, as well as neurosensory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, circadian rhythms, and musculoskeletal physiology. Psychosocial aspects of nutrition are also important for more productive missions and crew morale. 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. Cumulative nutritional research over the past five decades has resulted in the current nutritional requirements for astronauts. Realization of the full role of nutrition during spaceflight is critical for the success of extended-duration missions. Long-duration missions will require quantitation of nutrient requirements for maintenance of health and protection against the effects of microgravity.