AsianScientist (Mar. 24, 2014) – The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has signed an agreement with probiotics drink manufacturer Yakult Honsha to study the impact of probiotics on astronauts’ health.
The study, due to commence in 2016, will examine the effects of daily consumption of the probiotic drink, Yakult, on astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS). Scientists will investigate the effects of Yakult consumption on the immune function and gut microbiota of astronauts stationed at the ISS for long periods.
The prolonged exposure to the microgravity conditions on board spacecraft is associated with various health risks. Astronauts are known to experience muscular atrophy and a decline in immune function, among other symptoms. Since 2007, JAXA has studied the health consequences of space travel at a dedicated space medical biology laboratory. The impact of diet, especially probiotics, has been one of the laboratory’s key research focuses.
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Source: Yakult Honsha; Photo: mvannorden/Flickr/CC.
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