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Spaceflight and protein metabolism, with special reference to humansHuman space missions have shown that human spaceflight is associated with a loss of body protein. Specific changes include a loss of lean body mass, decreased muscle mass in the calves, decreased muscle strength, and changes in plasma proteins and amino acids. The major muscle loss is believed to be associated with the antigravity (postural) muscle. The most significant loss of protein appears to occur during the first month of flight. The etiology is believed to be multifactorial with contributions from disuse atrophy, undernutrition, and a stress type of response. This article reviews the results of American and Russian space missions to investigate this problem in humans, monkeys, and rats. The relationship of the flight results with ground-based models including bedrest for humans and hindlimb unweighting for rats is also discussed. The results suggest that humans adapt to spaceflight much better than either monkeys or rats.
Document ID
20050000291
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stein, T. P.
(University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine Stratford 08084)
Gaprindashvili, T.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: The American journal of clinical nutrition
Volume: 60
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0002-9165
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Review
Skylab Project
STS Shuttle Project
long duration
Flight Experiment
Review, Academic
Non-NASA Center
short duration
manned
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
Salyut Project

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