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VOL. 2, ISSUE 4 (2026)
Nutrition in space: A comprehensive review of dietary requirements and health challenges—an overview
Authors
Atifa Ismail, Nikita Agarwal, Sneha Chatterjee, Anmayee Nanda
Abstract
Human spaceflight exposes astronauts to a
unique combination of microgravity, ionizing radiation, confinement, isolation,
altered circadian rhythms, limited food availability, and psychological stress.
These conditions can substantially influence energy metabolism, body
composition, bone and muscle homeostasis, cardiovascular function, immune
regulation, gastrointestinal health, oxidative balance, and cognitive
performance. Nutrition therefore represents a critical component of human
spaceflight medicine and an important countermeasure against physiological
deterioration. The space food system must provide adequate energy and essential
nutrients while also meeting stringent requirements related to food safety,
shelf life, mass, volume, packaging, preparation, palatability, and crew
acceptability. Evidence from International Space Station missions and
ground-based analog studies indicates that inadequate energy intake, altered
fluid balance, changes in protein and amino acid metabolism, bone mineral loss,
vitamin D insufficiency, altered iron metabolism, oxidative stress, and gastrointestinal
and microbiome changes may occur during prolonged spaceflight. Nutritional
strategies involving adequate energy and protein, calcium and vitamin D,
appropriate iron management, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibre,
hydration, and individualized dietary monitoring may help mitigate these risks.
However, nutrient requirements during exploration-class missions remain
incompletely defined. Future missions to the Moon and Mars will require more
autonomous, sustainable, personalized, and resilient food systems, potentially
integrating precision nutrition, artificial intelligence, bioregenerative food
production, and in-situ resource utilization. This review summarizes current
knowledge of nutritional requirements during spaceflight, major health
challenges associated with inadequate nutrition, characteristics of space food
systems, potential nutritional countermeasures, and emerging research
priorities for long-duration human exploration.
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Pages:12-21
How to cite this article:
Atifa Ismail, Nikita Agarwal, Sneha Chatterjee, Anmayee Nanda "Nutrition in space: A comprehensive review of dietary requirements and health challenges—an overview". World Journal of Applied Research, Vol 2, Issue 4, 2026, Pages 12-21
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