Bone loss and kidney stone risk in weightlessness

Abstract

Purpose of reviewWeightlessness increases both bone loss and kidney stone formation risk. The large interior volume of the International Space Station (ISS) has allowed for a mix of exercise devices to help maintain the skeleton. But space exploration is changing. Long stays on the ISS will be replaced by journeys in smaller spacecraft both to and around the Moon. Small private space stations are under development. This will limit the ability to do exercise countermeasures, which can increase both bone loss and kidney stone risk. This review examines this risk and how it can be minimized in this new era of spaceflight. Recent findingsSimple, low-mass, low-power ways to track bone loss and kidney stone risk in space are being researched. Tracking urinary calcium concentration in the first morning void and targeting additional countermeasures (e.g. bisphosphonates) to those who run consistently high levels is one promising approach. SummaryNew exploration spacecraft would not have the room and capability to replicate the current 2 h, daily exercise countermeasure programme on the ISS. A monitoring approach, perhaps using urinary calcium as a marker, is needed to find those at greatest risk. This would allow countermeasures to be targeted individually and used efficiently.

Smooth Muscle Actin as a Criterion for Gravisensitivity of Stomach and Jejunum in Laboratory Rodents

“…Developing new space projects for manned flights, scientists are working hard not only to solve technical and engineering problems but also to properly maintain the health of astronauts. Weightlessness, affecting the body physiological functions and being able to cause various diseases, takes one of the leading positions in terms of the major biological effects that accompany the professional activities of the International Space Station (ISS) crews [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”