1

How Nutrition Fuels Human Space Flight

BoneMuscleCardio

Fluid/ElectrolyteImmunologyHematology

NeurovestibularEndocrine

GIBHP

Vision

Energy CHO (fiber), Fat, Protein

Fat-soluble vitaminsWater-soluble vitamins

MineralsFluid

Systems

EnergyAmino acids

ProteinSodium

Fatty acidsAntioxidants

Other

BisphosphonatesKCitrate

Other MedsExercise

Other

DurationFood System

RadiationEVA

Schedule

Vehicle/Mission

Space Nutrition

NutrientRequirements

Countermeasures

OperationsResearch

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20150019626 2018-06-16T06:04:37+00:00Z

2

FFQ ISS FIT

ISS FIT ISS FIT

ISS FIT Iron/Oxidative Damage/Bone

To

tal

L h

ip B

MD

(%

ch

)

Zwart et al., AJCN, 2013

PreFD15

FD30FD60

FD120

FD180

R+0R+3

0-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

-50

0

50

100

150Ferritin

8OHdG

3

Vitamin D

Pre M

ean

FD15FD30

FD60

FD120

FD180

R+0R+3

0

0

25

50

75

100

125

25(O

H)v

itam

in

D(n

mo

l/L)

Prefli

ght

FD15FD30

FD60

FD120

FD180

R+0R+30

800 IU vitamin D/day will maintain vitamin D status.

Vitamin D

Recycle Filter Tank Assembly

DistillationAssembly

URINE PROCESSOR ASSEMBLY

4

iRED ARED

Bone Mineral Density

% p

er

mo

nth

Smith et al, J Bone Miner Res, 2012

Bone Metabolism

iREDARED

Prefli

ght

FD15FD30

FD60

FD120

FD180

NT

X (

% f

rom

pre

flig

ht)

Smith et al, Annu Rev Nutrition, 2014

Prefli

ght

FD15FD30

FD60

FD120

FD180

BS

AP

(%

fro

m p

refl

igh

t)

Breakdown Formation Bone Strength?Fracture risk?

OptimizationExerciseDiet

Forward Work

Intracranial PressureFluid ShiftsCabin CO2

Exercise, Sodium

VIIP One-Carbon Metabolism

5

Ho

mo

cy

ste

ine,

mo

l/L

Zwart et al., J Nutrition , 2012

Ho

mo

cys

tein

e,m

ol/L

Cys

tath

ion

ine,

nm

ol/L

2-M

CA

, nm

ol/L

-180 -45 -10 15 30 60 120 180 R+0 R+300

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Preflight In-fight Postflight

P < 0.001, sig. group effect

Enzyme Polymorphisms

Enzymes Proteins, amino acid strings

assembled from amino acids based on “blueprints”

poly = multiple, “morph” = forms

For many (all?) enzymes, there are small differences in blueprints across the population (e.g., blood types)

MTHFR C677T Polymorphism

% Pop Enz Act.C/C ~35% 100%C/T(T/C) ~50% ~66%T/T ~15% ~50%

Follow-on study:

Five 1C polymorphisms

Expanded biochemistry/metabolomics

Vision and related medical data

n = 70/72 ISS astronauts

MTRR A66G

6

MTRR A66G

AA/AG GG

YesVision Issues

NoVision Issues

This line of research may ultimately:

Inform risks of space flight

Inform research/countermeasure options

Have broad application in health and medicine

/B’s

EarthPhysiology Medicine

TechnologyEducation

BoneMuscleCardio

Fluid/ElectrolyteImmunologyHematology

NeurovestibularEndocrine

GIBHP

Vision

Energy CHO (fiber), Fat, Protein

Fat-soluble vitaminsWater-soluble vitamins

MineralsFluid

Systems

EnergyAmino acids

ProteinSodium

Fatty acidsAntioxidants

Other

BisphosphonatesKCitrate

Other MedsExercise

Other

DurationFood System

RadiationEVA

Schedule

Vehicle/Mission

NutrientRequirements

Countermeasures

7

SLAMMD

8

9

EVA

10

WHC

11

12

Calcium Isotopes

40Ca42Ca48Ca 44Ca46Ca 43Ca

Calcium Isotopes

40Ca42Ca48Ca 44Ca46Ca 43Ca

96.941%0.647%0.187% 0.2086%<0.1% 0.135%

40Ca42Ca48Ca 44Ca46Ca 43Ca

Bone formation favors light Ca isotopes

Calcium Isotopes

Higher δ44Ca = “heavier”

Lower δ44Ca = “lighter”

Calcium Isotopes

40Ca42Ca48Ca 44Ca46Ca 43Ca

Skulan and DePaolo (1999); PNAS

40Ca42Ca48Ca 44Ca46Ca 43Ca

Bone formation favors light Ca isotopes

Calcium Isotopes

No isotope discrimination during bone resorption 

30-d bed rest: -0.25 ± 0.07%119-d bed rest: -1.36 ± 0.38%

DXA 119-d bed rest: -1.5 ± 1.0%

Morgan et al., PNAS, 2012

Days

Ch

ang

e in

44

/42 C

a vs

. p

re

-10 0 10 20 30 40-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Calcium Isotopes

13

14

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