The Biochemical, Physiological, and Metabolic Evaluation of Human Subjects Wearing Pressure Suits and on a Diet of Precooked Freeze Dehydrated Foods

Eight human male volunteers participated in two 6-week simulated aerospace studies. During this time the subjects wore an unpressurized MA-10 pressure suit for 16 consecutive days and ate a 4-day cycle diet composed of precooked freeze dehydrated foods or a matched 4-day cycle diet composed of fresh foods. The food was served at room temperature. Each diet was comprised of about 330 g of carbohydrate, 95 g of crude protein, 87 g of fat, and 2500 kcal per day. The diets were organoleptically acceptable and efficiently utilized. Only minimal weight changes were observed. Metabolic balances showed adequate adjustment to the diets; all subjects were in positive balance for nitrogen and for the major inorganic constituents. The wearing of the MA-10 pressure suit did not affect protein or caloric requirements but water intake did increase significantly by 17%. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or oral temperature. All other clinical measurements were in the normal range of clinical values. All subjects maintained excellent health throughout all the test periods. (Author).