Zhao Menglan
School of Health, Tianhua College, Shanghai Normal University, 201800, Shanghai, China.
Heliyon. 2024 Sep 5;10(19):e37452. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37452. eCollection 2024 Oct 15.
Manned space exploration missions have developed at a rapid pace, with missions to Mars likely to be in excess of 1000 days being planned for the next 20 years. As such, it is important to understand and address the challenges that astronauts face, such as higher radiation exposure, altered gravity, and isolation. Meanwhile, until now the formulation of space food systems has not focused on non-nutrients, and has not considered issues arising from their absence during space missions or the possibility of them to solve the challenges caused by space hazards.
This study investigates, by systematic review, current space food systems and the potential for non-nutrients, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, to counteract radiation- and low gravity-induced degeneration of bone, vision, muscle strength, immune function and cognition.
A systematic approach found 39 related animal model studies, and that polyphenol dietary interventions have been shown to mitigate radiation-related physiological problems and cognitive decline, as well as reduce the implications of radiotherapy. From the results of these studies, it appears that berry extracts have a significant effect on preventing cognitive problems through attenuating the expression of NADPH-oxidoreductase-2 (NOX2) and cycloocygenase-2 (COX2) in both frontal cortex and hippocampus and immune system problems caused by radiation similar to that experienced in space. For physiological problems like alteration of blood-testicular barrier permeability and oxidative stress in kidney and liver caused by gamma rays and X-rays, various polyphenol compounds including resveratrol and tea polyphenols have a certain degree of protective effect like enhancing metabolism of heart and decreasing DNA damage respectively. Due to the lack of quantitative studies and the limited number of relevant studies, it is impossible to compare which polyphenol compounds are more effective. Only one study showed no difference in the performances of a blueberry extract-fed group and a control group exposed to Fe irradiation after 12 months.
In conclusion, current animal studies have shown that polyphenols can mitigate radiation damage to some extent, but more research is needed to enable the application of a polyphenol diet to actual space flights.
载人太空探索任务发展迅速，未来20年计划开展的火星任务可能长达1000多天。因此，了解并应对宇航员面临的挑战非常重要，比如更高的辐射暴露、重力改变和隔离状态。与此同时，到目前为止，太空食品系统的配方尚未关注非营养物质，也未考虑太空任务期间缺乏这些物质所引发的问题，或者它们解决太空危害所造成挑战的可能性。
本研究通过系统综述，调查当前的太空食品系统以及黄酮类化合物和多酚等非营养物质对抗辐射和低重力引起的骨骼、视力、肌肉力量、免疫功能和认知退化的潜力。
一种系统的方法找到了39项相关动物模型研究，并且已表明多酚饮食干预可减轻与辐射相关的生理问题和认知衰退，以及减少放疗的影响。从这些研究结果来看，浆果提取物似乎通过减弱额叶皮质和海马体中NADPH氧化还原酶-2（NOX2）和环氧化酶-2（COX2）的表达，对预防认知问题有显著效果，并且对辐射引起的免疫系统问题也有类似在太空中所经历情况的显著效果。对于由伽马射线和X射线引起的血液-睾丸屏障通透性改变以及肾脏和肝脏中的氧化应激等生理问题，包括白藜芦醇和茶多酚在内的各种多酚化合物分别具有一定程度的保护作用，如增强心脏代谢和减少DNA损伤。由于缺乏定量研究且相关研究数量有限，无法比较哪种多酚化合物更有效。只有一项研究表明，喂食蓝莓提取物的组和暴露于铁辐射的对照组在12个月后表现没有差异。
总之，目前的动物研究表明，多酚可以在一定程度上减轻辐射损伤，但需要更多研究才能将多酚饮食应用于实际太空飞行。
