NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Artificial Gravity as a Bone Loss Countermeasure in Simulated WeightlessnessThe impact of microgravity on the human body is a significant concern for space travelers. We report here initial results from a pilot study designed to explore the utility of artificial gravity (AG) as a countermeasure to the effects of microgravity, specifically to bone loss. After an initial phase of adaptation and testing, 15 male subjects underwent 21 days of 6 head-down bed rest to simulate the deconditioning associated with space flight. Eight of the subjects underwent 1 h of centrifugation (AG, 1 gz at the heart, 2.5 gz at the feet) each day for 21 days, while 7 of the subjects served as untreated controls (CN). Blood and urine were collected before, during, and after bed rest for bone marker determinations. At this point, preliminary data are available on the first 8 subjects (6 AG, and 2 CN). Comparing the last week of bed rest to before bed rest, urinary excretion of the bone resorption marker n-telopeptide increased 95 plus or minus 59% (mean plus or minus SD) in CN but only 32 plus or minus 26% in the AG group. Similar results were found for another resorption marker, helical peptide (increased 57 plus or minus 0% and 35 plus or minus 13% in CN and AG respectively). Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, a bone formation marker, did not change during bed rest. At this point, sample analyses are continuing, including calcium tracer kinetic studies. These initial data demonstrate the potential effectiveness of short-radius, intermittent AG as a countermeasure to the bone deconditioning that occurs during bed rest.
Document ID
20070011622
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smith, S. M.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Zwart, S. R.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Crawford, G. E.
(EASI, Inc. United States)
Gillman, P. L.
(EASI, Inc. United States)
LeBlanc, A.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Shackelford, L. C.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Heer, M. A.
(Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt Germany)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2007
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Meeting Information
Meeting: 28th Annual International Gravitational Physiology Meeting
Location: San Antonio, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: April 8, 2007
End Date: April 13, 2007
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available