Advancing Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii Growth to Mitigate Psychological Stressors in Space

Brigham Young University Engineering Building, Provo, UT

Isolation and Confinement are two of the five main hazards of human spaceflight identified by NASA, leading to sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can impair intestinal barrier function and decrease populations of butyrate-producing bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, increasing the risk of stress-related brain disorders. Different fiber sources in diet can affect the growth and butyrate production of F. prausnitzii. This study reviews existing data on F. prausnitzii's fiber response and suggests new fiber combinations for testing, aiming to prevent reductions in F. prausnitzii populations and mitigate psychological disorders in astronauts, potentionally enhancing mission success.