哥本哈根大学与美国航天局的研究人员通过分析52名在国际空间站工作数月的宇航员血液样本，发现了宇航员太空便秘的潜在机制1。研究表明，宇航员进入太空后数周内肠道菌群会发生显著变化，这些菌群开始更多地分解蛋白质而非纤维，直到返回地球后这一变化才停止1。
微重力环境是导致这一变化的关键因素1。研究人员发现，失重条件下食物在消化道内移动速度减慢，进而引发蛋白质发酵增加1。蛋白质发酵产生的代谢物不仅可能是引发便秘的原因，还可能与肾脏损伤、情绪变化、注意力下降等其他健康问题有关1。
研究人员建议通过增加膳食纤维、补充益生元或采用促进肠蠕动的治疗方法来减少蛋白质发酵1。这些发现对规划未来火星任务以及改善地球上卧床患者的健康管理具有重要参考意义1。
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and NASA have identified the biological mechanism behind constipation experienced by astronauts in space. Through analysis of blood samples from 52 astronauts who worked aboard the International Space Station for several months, scientists discovered that microgravity triggers significant changes in gut microbiota within weeks of spaceflight 1. The altered bacterial communities shift their metabolic focus, beginning to break down protein rather than dietary fiber, a pattern that reverses only after astronauts return to Earth 1.
The research reveals that microgravity slows the movement of food through the digestive tract, leading to increased protein fermentation 1. The metabolic byproducts generated by this process may be linked to broader health concerns, including kidney damage, mood changes, and reduced cognitive function 1. To mitigate these effects, researchers recommend interventions such as increasing dietary fiber intake, supplementing with prebiotics, or using treatments that promote intestinal motility 1. The findings, published in Nature Communications in 2026, have significant implications not only for future Mars missions but also for managing the health of bedridden patients on Earth 1.
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