Blood analysis from 52 astronauts on the International Space Station suggests that microgravity slows the movement of food through the digestive tract. With food lingering longer, gut bacteria exhaust available fiber and shift toward fermenting protein, producing metabolites linked to constipation. This process mirrors what happens to bedridden patients on Earth who also experience prolonged intestinal transit times.
While the study offers a clear mechanical link between zero gravity and bowel trouble, blood metabolites are notoriously noisy and vary widely by individual. Mitigating these shifts for future Mars missions will likely require more than simply adding fiber, though the underlying gut-brain connection remains worth watching. It is a useful reminder that our internal biology is thoroughly dependent on the constant downward pull we evolved with.
more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225030.htm
Leave a comment