Meal Replacement in Isolated and Confined Mission Environments: Consumption, Acceptability, and Implications for Physical and Behavioral Health

Publication date: Available online 14 February 2020Source: Physiology & BehaviorAuthor(s): Takiyah A. Sirmons, Peter G. Roma, Alexandra M. Whitmire, Scott M. Smith, Sara R. Zwart, Millennia Young, Grace L. DouglasAbstractStrategies that reduce food system mass without negatively impacting food intake, acceptability, and resulting astronaut health and performance are essential for mission success in extreme operational environments such as space exploration. Here, we report the impact of substituting the spaceflight standard breakfast with energy equivalent, calorically-dense meal replacement bars (MRBs) on consumption, acceptability, and satiety and on associations with physical and behavioral health outcomes in high-performing subjects completing 30-day missions in the isolated and confined operational environment of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) habitat. MRB implementation was associated with reduced daily caloric intake, weight loss, and decrements in mood and neurobehavioral functioning, with no significant impacts on somatic symptoms and physical functioning. Food acceptability ratings suggest that flavor, texture, and menu fatigue attributed to limited variety are contributing factors, which are exacerbated by a daily implementation schedule. Meal replacement strategies for short-duration missions are operationally feasible, moderately acceptable, and can contribute to the practical goal of mass reduction, but more work is needed to define and optimize...

Source: Physiology and Behavior - February 14, 2020 Category: Physiology Source Type: research