Space Station Research: Bone Loss in Space

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Space Station Live: Nutrition and Bone Loss in Space

NASA Public Affairs Officer Lori Meggs discusses nutrition and bone loss in space with Dr. Scott Smith from the Nutrition Biochemistry Lab at Johnson Space Center and Linda Steakley, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Huntsville Hospital.

Watch the full Space Station Live broadcast weekdays on NASA TV at 10 a.m. CST. http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Space Station Live: Space Diet to Prevent Bone Mineral Loss

Space Station Live commentator Pat Ryan conducts an interview with Dr. Scott M. Smith, the principal investigator of the Pro K experiment. The experiment is NASA's first evaluation of a dietary countermeasure to lessen bone loss of astronauts. Pro K proposes that a flight diet with a decreased ratio of animal protein to potassium will lead to decreased loss of bone mineral. Read more...

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/721.html

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Bone Remodeling in Microgravity

The bones in our bodies are alive, growing and changing all the time. The constant process of bones growing and changing is known as bone remodeling. While in microgravity, astronauts experience an increased rate of bone loss. This loss is similar to osteoporosis. Understanding bone loss associated with microgravity can help researchers understand the mechanisms of bone loss in a wide range of disorders.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Taun]

Waspie... Would "simulated gravity" - in other words, spinning the capsule/station, to get a gravity effect - prevent this bone loss in space, or do they know?..

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Waspie... Would "simulated gravity" - in other words, spinning the capsule/station, to get a gravity effect - prevent this bone loss in space, or do they know?..

I don't know if it has been tried. It's certainly not been tried on humans and I've not heard of centrifuges being used for this purpose on small animals.

It is certainly a possible solution for the future but it has problems of it's own. You either need a very large vehicle to rotate OR you need rapid rotation. Rapid rotation would probably lead to problems of it's own, not least because of the Coriolis effect.

[Taun]

Thanks.. I had'nt thought about Coriolis effects...

I guess we just need some high level physics, super engineering and a healthy amount of "unobtainium" and build an artifical gravity machine...

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Space Station Live: Subregional Bone Loss

One of the very first studies on board the space station characterized bone loss for crews flying long-duration missions. Results from this experiment may help investigators understand bone loss on Earth as well as in space. Lori Meggs with the station's Payload Operations Integration Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville caught up with Tom Lang, the lead scientist of the SubRegional Bone Investigation. He discussed his findings and what we're doing to counteract the affects of microgravity on bone tissue.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

Edited June 4, 2014 by Waspie_Dwarf

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Space Station Live: Bone Densitometer

NASA Public Affairs Lori Meggs interviews Rich Boling, the vice president of corporate advancement for Techshot, Inc., about the Bone Densitometer X-ray device that is schedule to launch to the International Space Station in September. This segment aired during Space Station Live on August 6, 2014.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Microgravity Research Breaks Down How to Build Better Bones

As the saying goes, sticks and stones may break your bones—especially if you have a weak skeleton. This is not only a concern for the elderly who can suffer from osteoporosis. Inactivity from injury, illness, or malnutrition from anorexia or dietary challenges also can lead to bone breakdown in otherwise healthy people. Another cause of bone loss is living in microgravity. While most people may never experience life in space, the benefits of studying bone loss aboard the International Space Station has the potential to touch all of our lives here on the ground.

Bone loss occurs at an accelerated rate in space because of the lack of normal weight-bearing activities in the microgravity environment. Using nutrition and specific exercises, the crew aboard the space station can mitigate concerns.

Read more...