Journal of Medical Physics and Applied Sciences

Attenuation of Space Radiation-Induced Damage by an Oral Supplementation with a Mixture of Micronutrients in Astronauts

Context: There are no effective radiation protection strategies to protect the astronauts against space radiation while traveling beyond the earth-orbit.

Objectives: The objectives are to characterize space radiation and its ability to produce reactive oxygen species and inflammation that can increase adverse health effects in astronauts. Because of limitation of using a single or a mixture of few antioxidants, it proposes a comprehensive mixture of micronutrients for prevention and mitigation of radiation damage in astronauts.

Methods: Critical analysis of the published studies on space radiation-induced adverse health effects on astronauts and their countermeasures obtained from the PubMed Central was performed.

Results: While traveling beyond the earth-orbit, astronauts are exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar particles events, and (c) electrons and protons trapped in the Van Allen Belts. Space radiation enhances oxidative stress and inflammation that are associated with increased health risks. Administration of a single or a mixture of few antioxidants may not be adequate for radiation protection astronauts. Therefore, a comprehensive mixture of micronutrients for prevention and mitigation of space radiation injury is proposed.

Conclusion: Astronauts travelling beyond the earth orbit are exposed to space radiation, which enhance oxidative stress and inflammation that can produce adverse health effects. A comprehensive micronutrient mixture may prevent and mitigate adverse health effects in astronauts by simultaneously reducing the above cellular deficits.

Author(s):

Kedar N Prasad, Jae Ho Kim

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