**7.3 Vitamin D story continued**

In another research, our team measured the bone mineral density of 14 rats' femur and demonstrated morphologic changes for the contralateral femur after supplemental calcium/vitamin D. The bone mineral density and bone mineral content had a significant increase in the experiment group. The outer cortical bone thickness was also higher [21].

Astronauts should be healthy and able to maintain their health in order to be capable of performing their tasks as the best as possible. It should be implemented during and even after space travel (either landing on Mars or returning to the Earth). In this case, nutrition is of particular importance for the body as a whole and cellular processes. The food is packaged and ready for astronauts, which should be of good quality and, at the same time, meet the requirements of scientific references [67].

Cooper et al. published their research results on astronauts' food quality assessment in 2017 [67]. They examined 24 micronutrients including vitamin D in 109 food packages for 3 years and determined the amount of vitamin D at the beginning of the study, 1 and 3 years later. It turned out that vitamin D is not even adequate at

the beginning of the study compared to standard food tables! It was less than 50% of the required amount!

Please read the last paragraph again. It is amazing. Astronauts are selected and qualified persons after many tests and exams. It is rational that their food should be as suitable as possible and highly selected. The scientists had noticed the decrease of vitamin D in several studies, so they proposed the causes and solutions, but it seems that nobody noticed and tested the real amount of vitamin in foods (of course before Cooper et al. [67]). Modern life has changed our lifestyle; we become obese more and more, limited body activities and exercises, not going out of the buildings, using more sunscreens, maybe more makeups (especially in third world countries), covering all of the body (religious or national belief). Sunlight does not touch our body and skin. Vitamin D would not be produced. Then we should rely on the foodstuff, but they do not have sufficient vitamin D; a great disaster begins! It is so simple!

Therefore, the first solution would be the necessity of providing vitamin supplement for astronauts [67]. Since 2006, it has been announced that vitamin D supplementation would be part of the regular nutrition program in spaceflights [65].

Other solutions to this problem include:


In 2016, Wotring examined nine drugs which had been returned from ISS for the sake of their chemical power and degradation percentage. Their maintenance under the unusual situation in space travel may be associated with increased drug decomposition. Until now, the drugs are replaced by new ones before the expiration date. It is unlikely to be possible to replace expired drugs on a long journey such as to Mars. Wotring failed to provide a complete guide to this issue because there was no control sample on the Earth and proposed more studies should be carried out [68].

Although prescribing vitamin D supplements can be proposed as a nutritional countermeasure, supplements may also degrade and lose their effect. In this regard, comprehensive research should be provided [67].

Zwart and colleagues published their research results in 2009, considering that maintaining and supplying food in spaceships are vital and essential to the success of the mission and health of the astronauts. Based upon past studies conducted on the Earth, they announced that long-term storage of vitamins or exposure to radiation might alter some of these, so that their intake does not affect, or even dangerous and harmful. They sent four identical kits containing foods and vitamins (including vitamin D supplements) to ISS in 2006. They also kept a control group (similar packages) at ground level. The experiments were carried out on four occasions (on the days 13th, 353rd, 596th, and 880th). The amount of vitamin remaining after 596 days changed due to the length of storage time in most foods, but the final results showed that there was no difference between space travels and the Earth's surface [69].

Some studies (including Smith et al.) have suggested that the amount of vitamin D in long-term space travel would change, with possible causes as [70]:

**75**

*Vitamin D in Space*

b.Consumption

c.Excretion

a.Time spent

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82314*

2.Food decomposition due to:

b.Other unknown causes

considered alone or in combination [69].

• Long-term food storage

• Ionizing radiation

• Food decomposition

• Reduced bioavailability

routes [70]:

**8. Summary**

even on the Earth.

Smith et al. have referred to vitamin D reduction in 3- to 6-month space travel (with unknown mechanisms) in three different studies (published in 1999 and 2 papers in 2005). This was while the spaceship crew had consumed the supplement too. No mechanism is known for such a reduction, although two factors can be

These two factors can disrupt the feeding of astronauts through the following

Another point to note is the effect of radiation on vitamins. Vitamins are considered to be human-protecting sources that do not have any substitute. If we consider vitamins to be isolated from food, then radiation would have little effect on them, because they are considered as small molecules. However, if the radiation hits the vitamins inside the food (where molecules of water and lipids are around them),

Better than any conclusion, please go straight to the summary and find it there.

Human chose spaceflights many years ago. The space environment has its distinct physiology which is different from the Earth. Dramatic changes would occur in the human body totally and in the skeletal system as a part. There would be no trivial sun or UV exposure in spaceships; so everything is ready for the advent of osteoporosis. In such situations, vitamin D had come to the scene, to corporate positive effects in the skeleton and other body systems. Studies have shown some promising results, but as revealed earlier, the main concern and problem would be the amount of vitamin D in prepared foods for astronauts (lesser than expected and standard values). It seems that distinguished scientists have noticed the subject and have tried some solutions, maybe a process, suitable

• Food oxidation and the emergence of inappropriate odors

there would be radicals that might affect vitamins negatively [69].

1.Metabolism in various stages of vitamin D metabolism:

a.Absorption

*Vitamin D in Space DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82314*


*Fads and Facts about Vitamin D*

Other solutions to this problem include:

of vitamin D in foods during travel

comprehensive research should be provided [67].

space travels and the Earth's surface [69].

a.Absorption

the required amount!

the beginning of the study compared to standard food tables! It was less than 50% of

Please read the last paragraph again. It is amazing. Astronauts are selected and qualified persons after many tests and exams. It is rational that their food should be as suitable as possible and highly selected. The scientists had noticed the decrease of vitamin D in several studies, so they proposed the causes and solutions, but it seems that nobody noticed and tested the real amount of vitamin in foods (of course before Cooper et al. [67]). Modern life has changed our lifestyle; we become obese more and more, limited body activities and exercises, not going out of the buildings, using more sunscreens, maybe more makeups (especially in third world countries), covering all of the body (religious or national belief). Sunlight does not touch our body and skin. Vitamin D would not be produced. Then we should rely on the foodstuff, but they do not have sufficient vitamin D; a great disaster begins! It is so simple!

Therefore, the first solution would be the necessity of providing vitamin supplement for astronauts [67]. Since 2006, it has been announced that vitamin D supplementation would be part of the regular nutrition program in spaceflights [65].

• Specific/specialized techniques for storage and maintaining adequate amounts

In 2016, Wotring examined nine drugs which had been returned from ISS for the sake of their chemical power and degradation percentage. Their maintenance under the unusual situation in space travel may be associated with increased drug decomposition. Until now, the drugs are replaced by new ones before the expiration date. It is unlikely to be possible to replace expired drugs on a long journey such as to Mars. Wotring failed to provide a complete guide to this issue because there was no control sample on the Earth and proposed more studies should be carried out [68]. Although prescribing vitamin D supplements can be proposed as a nutritional countermeasure, supplements may also degrade and lose their effect. In this regard,

Zwart and colleagues published their research results in 2009, considering that maintaining and supplying food in spaceships are vital and essential to the success of the mission and health of the astronauts. Based upon past studies conducted on the Earth, they announced that long-term storage of vitamins or exposure to radiation might alter some of these, so that their intake does not affect, or even dangerous and harmful. They sent four identical kits containing foods and vitamins (including vitamin D supplements) to ISS in 2006. They also kept a control group (similar packages) at ground level. The experiments were carried out on four occasions (on the days 13th, 353rd, 596th, and 880th). The amount of vitamin remaining after 596 days changed due to the length of storage time in most foods, but the final results showed that there was no difference between

Some studies (including Smith et al.) have suggested that the amount of vitamin

D in long-term space travel would change, with possible causes as [70]:

1.Metabolism in various stages of vitamin D metabolism:

• The use of vitamin D-rich or fortified foods in the diet of astronauts

**74**

	- a.Time spent
	- b.Other unknown causes

Smith et al. have referred to vitamin D reduction in 3- to 6-month space travel (with unknown mechanisms) in three different studies (published in 1999 and 2 papers in 2005). This was while the spaceship crew had consumed the supplement too. No mechanism is known for such a reduction, although two factors can be considered alone or in combination [69].


These two factors can disrupt the feeding of astronauts through the following routes [70]:


Another point to note is the effect of radiation on vitamins. Vitamins are considered to be human-protecting sources that do not have any substitute. If we consider vitamins to be isolated from food, then radiation would have little effect on them, because they are considered as small molecules. However, if the radiation hits the vitamins inside the food (where molecules of water and lipids are around them), there would be radicals that might affect vitamins negatively [69].

Better than any conclusion, please go straight to the summary and find it there.

### **8. Summary**

Human chose spaceflights many years ago. The space environment has its distinct physiology which is different from the Earth. Dramatic changes would occur in the human body totally and in the skeletal system as a part. There would be no trivial sun or UV exposure in spaceships; so everything is ready for the advent of osteoporosis. In such situations, vitamin D had come to the scene, to corporate positive effects in the skeleton and other body systems. Studies have shown some promising results, but as revealed earlier, the main concern and problem would be the amount of vitamin D in prepared foods for astronauts (lesser than expected and standard values). It seems that distinguished scientists have noticed the subject and have tried some solutions, maybe a process, suitable even on the Earth.
