Why do astronauts get constipated in space? Blood tests offer new clues
Researchers have identified that microgravity causes changes in gut bacteria, leading to increased protein fermentation and potential constipation in astronauts. These findings suggest a link between digestive health in space and the gut-brain axis, which may affect mood and cognitive function.
Why it matters
Understanding the physiological impacts of space travel is critical for the success of long-term human missions to Mars and beyond.
Constipation is a common problem for astronauts. But exactly why the intestines slow down in space has remained unclear.Now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, working with NASA, say they have found clues in the blood of astronauts that could help explain what happens to the gut when the body leaves Earth.The researchers analysed blood samples from 52 astronauts who spent months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their findings suggest that changes in the gut begin relatively soon after astronauts enter space.Within weeks of leaving Earth, the astronauts showed signs that bacteria in their intestines were fermenting more protein than usual. This change continued throughout their missions and disappeared after they returned to Earth.What happens to the gut in space?Normally, food moves through the digestive system as the intestines contract in a process known as peristalsis.
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