Anemia is explicitly listed as a women’s health concern in NASA documents, but the mechanisms in females especially considering menstrual suppression, radiation‑induced inflammation, and altered iron regulation have little to no data points. There is limited human‑level data on female reproductive endocrinology in space, and the few documented issues (AUB, ovarian cysts, anemia, endocrine disruption) are mentioned only as risks or theoretical concerns, not as studied outcomes therefore I propose research in this area to bring light to these issues so that we can go beyond ‘suspecting risks’, ‘observing hints in animal models’ and move to identifying how females can be affected with mechanistic omics-based or sex specific analyses to enable the development of counter measures and inform monitoring as female astronauts enter longer missions.
Abstract
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a recognized concern for female astronauts, yet the mechanisms underlying altered iron metabolism during spaceflight remain poorly defined. Spaceflight induces fluid shifts, hemolysis, inflammation, and endocrine changes that collectively influence iron absorption, transport, and erythropoiesis. While anemia has been documented in astronauts, sex‑specific drivers such as menstrual suppression, ovarian hormone fluctuations, and differential inflammatory responses have not been examined using multi‑omics approaches. This project proposes an integrative analysis of GeneLab datasets to characterize spaceflight‑associated changes in iron regulatory pathways, including hepcidin signaling, erythropoietin response, and oxidative stress markers. The goal is to determine whether female‑specific endocrine environments modulate susceptibility to IDA during long‑duration missions. Findings will inform countermeasure development and contribute to NASA’s broader effort to understand sex‑specific physiological risks for Artemis‑era exploration.
Relevant literature (expanding)
Zwart, S. R., Morgan, J. L. L., & Smith, S. M. (2013). Iron status and its relations with oxidative damage and bone loss during long‑duration space flight on the International Space Station. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98(1), 217–223. https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)05150-X/fulltext
Lansiaux, E., Jain, N., Chodnekar, S. Y., Siddiq, A., Ibrahim, M., Yèche, M., & Kantane, I. (2024). Understanding the complexities of space anaemia in extended space missions: Revelations from microgravitational odyssey. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, 1321468. Frontiers | Understanding the complexities of space anaemia in extended space missions: revelations from microgravitational odyssey
Blain, J. V. (Ed.). (2005). Nutritional biochemistry of space flight. Space Science, Exploration and Policies Series. Nova Science Publishers. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/nutritional-biochemistry-of-space-flight.pdf?emrc=69ad46d5f22f0
Hughes‑Fulford, M., Carroll, D. J., Dunbar, B. J., Sawyer, A. J., & colleagues. (2024). Women in space: A review of known physiological adaptations and health perspectives. Experimental Physiology. https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP091527
Nature Editorial. (2022). A mission to understand space anaemia. Nature, Research Highlight. A mission to understand space anaemia | Communications Medicine