The relationship between space sickness and preflight diet

Area of Science:

• Space Medicine
• Nutritional Science
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Astronauts on Skylab missions (1973-1974) consumed carefully planned diets.
• Diets were controlled for specific nutrients (calcium, phosphorus, protein) to mitigate bone and muscle loss.
• Macro-nutrient proportions (carbohydrate, fat, protein) were less strictly controlled, based on astronaut preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential role of diet as a contributing factor to space sickness.
• To explore the relationship between dietary intake and physiological/behavioral changes in astronauts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of astronaut food preferences and selection from a list of 70 items.
• Development of rotating daily menus with controlled elemental composition.
• Documentation of all deviations from planned inflight, preflight, and postflight diets.
• Consideration of genetic influences on dietary regulation and neurotransmitter precursor availability.

Main Results:

• While specific nutrient intake was managed, the balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins was incidentally determined by food preferences.
• Previous research indicated genetic components in dietary regulation and links between diet, neurotransmitters, and behavior.
• Preflight physiological variables were known to correlate with space sickness.

Conclusions:

• Dietary self-selection and macro-nutrient composition warrant further investigation as potential contributors to space sickness.
• Understanding the interplay between diet, physiology, and behavior is crucial for astronaut health in space.
• Further research is needed to establish a definitive link between specific dietary patterns and the incidence of space sickness.