Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage
Abstract Processed and prepackaged space food is the main source of nutrition for crew aboard the International Space Station, and likely will continue to be the main source of nutrition for future exploration missions. However, very little information is available on the nutritional stability of sp...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2017-06-01
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Series: | npj Microgravity |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-017-0022-z |
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author | Maya Cooper Michele Perchonok Grace L. Douglas |
author_facet | Maya Cooper Michele Perchonok Grace L. Douglas |
author_sort | Maya Cooper |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Processed and prepackaged space food is the main source of nutrition for crew aboard the International Space Station, and likely will continue to be the main source of nutrition for future exploration missions. However, very little information is available on the nutritional stability of space foods. To better understand their nutritional stability, 24 micronutrients were measured in 109 space foods stored over 3 years at room temperature. Our analysis indicated that potassium, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K concentrations in the food may not be adequate to meet the recommended daily intake requirements even before storage. Decreases in vitamins A, C, B1, and B6 were observed during storage. Notably, vitamins B1 and C may degrade to inadequate levels after 1 year and 3 years, respectively. This assessment suggests that different technological approaches will be required to stabilize processed foods to enable spaceflight missions over 1 year. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-510a46b1a71c4ec1831dadfa0f029176 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2373-8065 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:01:07Z |
publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
record_format | Article |
series | npj Microgravity |
spelling | doaj.art-510a46b1a71c4ec1831dadfa0f0291762023-12-02T11:40:52ZengNature Portfolionpj Microgravity2373-80652017-06-01311410.1038/s41526-017-0022-zInitial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storageMaya Cooper0Michele Perchonok1Grace L. Douglas2Leidos, Inc.Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space CenterHuman Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space CenterAbstract Processed and prepackaged space food is the main source of nutrition for crew aboard the International Space Station, and likely will continue to be the main source of nutrition for future exploration missions. However, very little information is available on the nutritional stability of space foods. To better understand their nutritional stability, 24 micronutrients were measured in 109 space foods stored over 3 years at room temperature. Our analysis indicated that potassium, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K concentrations in the food may not be adequate to meet the recommended daily intake requirements even before storage. Decreases in vitamins A, C, B1, and B6 were observed during storage. Notably, vitamins B1 and C may degrade to inadequate levels after 1 year and 3 years, respectively. This assessment suggests that different technological approaches will be required to stabilize processed foods to enable spaceflight missions over 1 year.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-017-0022-z |
spellingShingle | Maya Cooper Michele Perchonok Grace L. Douglas Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage npj Microgravity |
title | Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage |
title_full | Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage |
title_fullStr | Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage |
title_full_unstemmed | Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage |
title_short | Initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage |
title_sort | initial assessment of the nutritional quality of the space food system over three years of ambient storage |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-017-0022-z |
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