La nutrition en conditions extrêmes

Nutritional reference intakes are build to cover the nutritional needs of the majority of the “normal“ population in a “normal“ environment. Much work is needed to define references for extreme situations. Beside extreme situations such as pathology, under or over nutrition, the study of other extreme conditions could lead to useful insights in pathophysiological mechanisms. Man adaptation to cold temperatures, altitude or spatial flights leads to the development of experimental models, the utility of which goes far beyond the studied conditions: the regulation of appetite and of the metabolisms of proteins, carbohydrates or calcium provides interesting examples.