What does this research mean for the field?

Consuming water with a high deuterium content (1200 ppm), simulating Martian water, causes deuterium accumulation in mammalian tissues, triggering oxidative stress, microbiome alterations, and the activation of compensatory adaptation mechanisms. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to understand how water with increased deuterium content affects mammals' biological processes and adaptations.

April 1, 2026Frontiers in Bioscience-Elite0 citationsOpen Access

Consumption of Water Similar to Martian Water in Terms of Deuterium Content by Mammals Leads to the Development of an Adaptation Syndrome and Activation of Protective Mechanisms Against Stress

SKS. V. Kozin AKAlexandr Kravtsov OLO. M. Lyasota

Key Points

This study aims to understand how water with increased deuterium content affects mammals' biological processes and adaptations.
Conducted on Wistar rats over 31 and 38 days.
Analyzed blood and brain tissue for deuterium content using NMR spectroscopy and isotope mass spectrometry.
Studied the antioxidant system's functioning in blood plasma and brain tissue with PCR, chemiluminescence, and biochemical analyses.
Investigated changes in the intestinal microbiome during the experiment.
Blood plasma deuterium content increased to 856 ppm by day 23, with brain levels reaching 260 ppm by day 31.
Imbalance in antioxidant and prooxidant processes was observed alongside oxidative stress shifts.
Changes in enzyme activity and gene expression related to metabolism and protection mechanisms were noted.
The number of Bacteroides bacteria decreased by 14% to 21.8%, while Firmicutes increased by 12% to 16% from day zero.

Abstract

Background: Deuterium is unevenly distributed in natural waters, while the same applies to the content of deuterium in ice on Mars. Moreover, changes in the deuterium content of drinking water are known to affect the bodies of mammals. Thus, since plans are in place to send people to Mars in the coming years, understanding the effects of water with a Martian isotopic composition is necessary. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of water with an increased deuterium content of 1200 ppm on the dynamics of indicators in the body of mammals. Methods: The study was conducted on Wistar rats. The metabolic profile of blood and the content of deuterium in it were studied in dynamics by days using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Additionally, the isotopic composition of brain tissue was studied in dynamics by days using isotope mass spectrometry. A further study was conducted on the functioning of the antioxidant system in blood plasma and brain tissue using PCR analysis, chemiluminescence, and biochemical analysis methods; the intestinal microbiome was also studied. The durations of the animal experiments were 31 (blood and brain study) and 38 (stress-protective activity study) days. Results: On day 23, the deuterium content in the blood plasma increased to 856 parts per million (ppm), and to 260 ppm in the brain on day 31. This increase led to an imbalance in the antioxidant/prooxidant processes. This effect was accompanied by shifts in the intensity of oxidative processes, alongside changes in enzyme activity and the expression of genes responsible for their synthesis, shifts in amino acid composition, and changes in the concentration of metabolites and microbiome molecules in the blood plasma. By the fifth and eighth days, the number of Bacteroides in the intestines had decreased by 14% and 21.8%, respectively, compared to the values measured on day zero of the experiment. Meanwhile, the population of Firmicutes-type bacteria increased by 12% and 16% on the fifth and eighth days, respectively, compared to the indicators measured on day zero of the experiment. Conclusion: An increase in the concentration of deuterium in the body promotes the development of a stress reaction and the activation of compensatory mechanisms aimed at adaptation.

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