NASA scientists have shown that a nutrient-rich diet can lessen some health downsides linked to space travel. The findings appeared in Scientific Reports.
The study recruited 16 participants, including 10 men and 6 women. Four volunteers completed four 45-day missions inside a ground-based chamber that mimics the conditions of spaceflight. The researchers tested an enhanced diet that expanded fruit and vegetable portions and increased intake of fish and omega-3 fatty acids.
All foods remained stable during the storage period required for long missions. During the trials, participants provided saliva, urine, blood, and stool samples and performed tasks assessed for cognitive performance.
The results indicated that those on the enhanced diet showed lower cholesterol, reduced cortisol levels, higher cognitive test scores, and a more balanced gut microbiome.
Experts believe that an advanced spaceflight diet could offer meaningful health and performance advantages for astronauts, including during shorter missions.