Probiotics in space: NASA explores viability of microorganisms for space flight

By Stephen Daniells

- Last updated on GMT

© iStock/vjanez
© iStock/vjanez

Related tags Probiotic

Spending time in the low gravity environment of space leads to significant changes to your body – your bones weaken and your sense of taste may diminish. It is also known that the diversity of culturable bacteria in the gut microbiome decreases, which coincides with a decline in immune system function, and gastrointestinal distress (both constipation and diarrhea).

This has even led some scientists to ask, “could spaceflight-associated immune system weakening preclude the expansion of human presence beyond Earth's orbit?”​ (Gueguinou et al, 2009)

Because probiotics have been shown in numerous studies on earth to provide benefits for such issues, NASA scientists are exploring if such benefits would translate to the microgravity conditions experienced during spaceflight.

A scientific first

At least one strain would be fine: Writing in Acta Astronautica,​ scientists from NASA Johnson Space Center, JES TECH, and the J. Craig Venter Institute reported that Lactobacillus acidophilus ​ATCC 4356 cultured anaerobically under low gravity conditions (called Low-Shear Modeled Microgravity or LSMMG) in a rotating-wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor behaved just as it does on earth.

 “To our knowledge, ours is the first study to document the anaerobic LSMMG response of a beneficial probiotic organism that is a natural inhabitant of the low-fluid-shear regions of the GI tract,” ​wrote the researchers, led by Dr Grace Douglas, Advanced Food Technology Lead Scientist at the NASA Johnson Space Center. “Therefore, it is not surprising that this is the first case where results indicate an absence of altered growth, stress response, and gene expression between LSMMG and control cultures.”

“The lack of significant changes in gene expression when L. acidophilus is subjected to LSMMG under anaerobic conditions suggest that this particular L. acidophilus would behave similarly in both spaceflight and on Earth,” ​they added.

The ultimate goal

Speaking with NutraIngredients-USA, Dr Douglas noted that she has also co-authored a review of probiotics associated with clinical improvements in crew-relevant illness and conditions (Beneficial Microbes​).

“The ultimate goal is to find countermeasures that are non-invasive and succeed on long-term flight,”​ she said. “Food is being sent anyway, so can we develop food products that deliver these ingredients?”

No fermented foods or probiotic products are currently included in an astronaut food system because of the strict microbiological controls and lack of refrigeration on a spacecraft, she said.

“We do send a powdered milk so we could potentially add probiotics to that, but the spaceflight microbiological standards would have to change.”

Prebiotics

Dr Douglas also considered the potential role of prebiotics in the space food system in her review. A prebiotic is defined as, “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit”​.

“Prebiotics work when you have microorganisms there to benefit in the first place,” ​said Dr Douglas. “The best approach is to take both prebiotics and probiotics together. Space flight promotes a healthy well-rounded diet so prebiotics would be in there in the first place.”

Sources: Acta Astronautica
Volume 139, October 2017, Pages 463-468
“Response of ​Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 to low-shear modeled microgravity”
Authors: S. Castro-Wallace et al.

Beneficial Microbes
2017, doi: 10.3920/BM2017.0027
“Evidence based selection of probiotic strains to promote astronaut health or alleviate symptoms of illness on long duration spaceflight missions”
Authors: G.L. Douglas & A.A. Voorhies

Related news

Related products

show more

Whitepaper: Discover a new era in postbiotics

Whitepaper: Discover a new era in postbiotics

Content provided by DSM Nutritional Products | 28-Nov-2023 | White Paper

Postbiotic ingredients are set to open up a world of opportunities across the human health and nutrition industry, fueled by developing science demonstrating...

Taking Immune Support to a New Level

Taking Immune Support to a New Level

Content provided by AB Biotek Human Nutrition & Health | 30-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Patent-pending ABB C1® redefines immune support by addressing innate, acquired, and Trained Immunity. In 'ABB C1®: Training Now for Future Immune...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars