Physiological Alterations in Relation to Space Flight: The Role of Nutrition

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2022 Nov 26

PMID 36432580

Authors

Stavroula Chaloulakou

Kalliopi Anna Poulia

Dimitrios Karayiannis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Astronauts exhibit several pathophysiological changes due to a variety of stressors related to the space environment, including microgravity, space radiation, isolation, and confinement. Space motion sickness, bone and muscle mass loss, cardiovascular deconditioning and neuro-ocular syndrome are some of the spaceflight-induced effects on human health. Optimal nutrition is of the utmost importance, and-in combination with other measures, such as physical activity and pharmacological treatment-has a key role in mitigating many of the above conditions, including bone and muscle mass loss. Since the beginning of human space exploration, space food has not fully covered astronauts' needs. They often suffer from menu fatigue and present unintentional weight loss, which leads to further alterations. The purpose of this review was to explore the role of nutrition in relation to the pathophysiological effects of spaceflight on the human body.

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