Product 04 of 14
A probiotic aimed at the gut-bone connection.
In microgravity the skeleton is unloaded and astronauts lose roughly 1 to 2% of bone density a month. Exercise and nutrition help but do not fully solve it, and no simple oral countermeasure exists.
The Bone-Support Probiotic is a research programme based on the gut-bone connection. In early studies by other groups, a Lactobacillus strain reduced unloading-related bone loss in mice. We are studying whether a well-characterised strain in a stable format could support bone health in crews.
This is early-stage science. Mouse results do not translate directly to people, which is why the programme starts with evidence grading and a strain safety screen.
The problem
Astronauts lose roughly 1 to 2% of bone density a month in microgravity.
Source: published spaceflight studies and NASA planning figures; refers to work by other groups.
The science
Why this approach.
Bone is constantly rebuilt in response to load. In microgravity the load is removed, bone resorption rises and astronauts lose roughly 1 to 2% of bone density a month. Exercise, nutrition and sometimes drugs are used to slow the loss, but the problem grows with mission length.
A body of work by other groups suggests that gut microbes influence bone turnover through immune signalling and nutrient handling. In early studies, a Lactobacillus strain reduced unloading-related bone loss in mice. Mouse studies are a starting point, not proof for people. This programme begins by grading that evidence, characterising candidate strains and defining the human-relevant endpoints that would be needed.
In use
Across the length of a mission.
How this product is intended to fit into a crew's routine, from loading to return.
Candidate strain stored in the stable spore or other shelf-stable format.
Daily use during the long transit, when the skeleton is unloaded.
Continued on partial-gravity surfaces, with bone biomarkers monitored.
Biomarker and imaging data inform whether any benefit is real.
Design
Four decisions that shape it.
Evidence first
Published studies graded by organism, duration and setting so mouse results are not mistaken for crew results.
Strain selection
Candidate strains screened for safety and for the traits linked to bone outcomes.
Stable format
Delivered in the spore or other shelf-stable format used across the programme.
Combination potential
Could pair with the On-Demand Peptide Library's bone-building peptide.
Risks
What could go wrong, and what we do about it.
| Risk | How we address it |
|---|---|
| Mouse-to-human gap | No crew claim until human-relevant evidence exists; endpoints defined in advance. |
| Strain-specific effects | Strain-level characterisation rather than assuming genus-level results. |
| Confounding by exercise and diet | Study design that separates the probiotic from other countermeasures. |
Test plan
Ground, analog, orbit.
A staged programme: ground first, then analog crews, then flight.
Ground testing
Strain characterisation, storage stability and cell-model work.
Isolated-crew studies
Biomarker studies in analog populations if earlier stages succeed.
Flight testing
Considered only after strong ground data.
Partnerships
Bone-physiology groups and space-medicine institutes.
Questions
FAQ.
Is there proof it works in people?
No. The published signal is early and from mice. This is a research programme.
Why a probiotic for bone?
Gut microbes influence inflammation and nutrient handling, both linked to bone turnover.
Related
Works well with.
SpaceBiotic Spore Capsule
A room-temperature probiotic built on bacterial spores.
In developmentRead more02Stabilised Vitamin System
Encapsulated vitamins designed to hold potency through 5 years of storage.
In developmentRead more03On-Demand Peptide Library
Dried spores, each programmed to make one medicine on request within about 24 hours.
Research programmeRead moreAll products on this site are under research and development. They are not approved or cleared by any regulator and are not available for sale. Nothing here is medical advice, and no product is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Descriptions of research refer to published studies by other groups and do not claim that our products have been proven in space. Bone-Support Probiotic is a product under research and development and is not available for sale.
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