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Future human bone research in spaceSkylab crewmembers demonstrated negative calcium (Ca) balance reaching about -300 mg/day by flight day 84. Limited bone density (BMD) measurements documented that bone was not lost equally from all parts of the skeleton. Subsequent BMD studies during long duration Russian flights documented the regional extent of bone loss. These studies demonstrated mean losses in the spine, femur neck, trochanter, and pelvis of about 1%-1.6% with large differences between individuals as well as between bone sites in a given individual. Limited available data indicate postflight bone recovery occurred in some individuals, but may require several years for complete restoration. Long duration bedrest studies showed a similar pattern of bone loss and calcium balance (-180 mg/day) as spaceflight. During long duration bedrest, resorption markers were elevated, formation markers were unchanged, 1,25 vitamin D (VitD) and calcium absorption were decreased, and serum ionized Ca was increased. Although this information is a good beginning, additional spaceflight research is needed to assess architectural and subregional bone changes, elucidate mechanisms, and develop efficient as well as effective countermeasures. Space research poses a number of unique problems not encountered in ground-based laboratory research. Therefore, researchers contemplating human spaceflight research need to consider a number of unique problems related to spaceflight in their experimental design.
Document ID
20040172690
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
LeBlanc, A.
(Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, United States)
Shackelford, L.
Schneider, V.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Bone
Volume: 22
Issue: 5 Suppl
ISSN: 8756-3282
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Center JSC
Review, Tutorial
NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal
NASA Center HQS
Review
Non-NASA Center

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