David Beckham’s IM8 supplement brand investigates accelerated aging in space aboard ISS

David Beckham’s IM8 supplement brand, co-founded with Prenetics, has sent specially designed 3D organoids — miniature, simplified versions of human tissues — into space to study accelerated aging, leveraging microgravity’s unique environment that will speed up this process. 

With the month-long space experiment underway aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the researchers will examine the benefits of IM8’s patent-pending ingredient, Cell Rejuvenation Technology 8 (CRT8), which combines “nature’s most potent compounds to support cellular renewal and longevity.”

Formulated with NAD+ precursors and marine phytoplankton, CRT8 claims to support autophagy and cellular repair “at the deepest level, helping the body rejuvenate.”

Launched via SpaceX CRS-31 on November 4, the mission is investigating accelerated aging and longevity by leveraging microgravity’s unique environment to speed up aging processes at the cellular level.

“Space exploration has a remarkable history of leading to significant medical breakthroughs that benefit humanity. For example, research on bone density loss in astronauts has advanced our understanding and treatment of osteoporosis on Earth,” says Dr. Jim Green, former chief scientist of NASA and a key member of IM8’s Scientific Advisory Board.

“Additionally, microgravity has facilitated the growth of high-quality protein crystals, aiding in the development of more effective drugs for conditions such as cancer and diabetes. By investigating accelerated aging in space, we have the potential to uncover new insights into cellular processes that could lead to groundbreaking interventions for age-related diseases.”

The findings from this study are expected to benefit IM8’s future endeavors, including enhanced product efficacy. Discoveries from the study may lead to the creation of new supplements targeting specific aging pathways, the brand highlights.

CRT8 claims to support autophagy and cellular repair.Microgravity enables advanced autophagy research

The research is being conducted in partnership with the University of Oxford, UK, and supported by Space Applications Services and Metavisionaries.

The experiment focuses on autophagy, the process by which cells remove and recycle damaged components. Autophagy declines with age, contributing to cellular aging and associated health issues such as decreased immune function and chronic inflammation.

By enhancing autophagy, it may be possible to mitigate these effects and improve overall healthspan, suggests IM8.

Microgravity’s unique environment offers a unique opportunity to study aging processes more rapidly than on Earth. The absence of Earth’s gravity affects human physiology in ways that mimic the aging process, including cell degeneration, oxidative stress and DNA damage.

“Microgravity might provide an accelerated aging model, allowing us to study cellular processes within a compressed time frame,” says Dr. Ghada Alsaleh, director of the Space Innovation Lab at the University of Oxford.

“Our research aims to understand aging pathways in space to help us better moderate and manage aging processes on Earth, as well as explore whether enhancing autophagy can mitigate cellular aging. This work could have profound implications for improving healthspan on Earth and protecting astronaut health during space missions.”

Improving earthbound and space health

This mission utilizes a specially designed science cube to house the CRT8 ingredients for a full month aboard the ISS.

The cube is accommodated inside the ICE Cubes Facility once onboard; this platform provides power and data to the payload, as well as real-time connectivity with ground control. This setup enables researchers back in Oxford to monitor and interact with the experiment in real-time.

“Our collaboration with the University of Oxford represents an important milestone in our commitment to advancing health science,” says Danny Yeung, CEO of Prenetics and IM8.

IM8 unveiled its line of supplement solutions last month, shipping to 31 countries and regions. It released two flagship products — Daily Ultimate Essentials and Daily Ultimate Longevity — claiming to support optimal daily nutrition and promote healthy aging, backed by clinical trials and third-party testing.

Outer space continues to present new frontiers for scientific advances in human nutrition. Earlier this year, space researcher and professor Dr. Lembit Sihver pioneered research into astronaut microbiomes to see how exposure to extreme conditions such as microgravity and ionizing radiation influences the balance of bacteria.