Space’s Hidden Toll: New Research Could Improve Health in Space and on Earth

Recent research reveals that space travel results in the loss of red blood cells and bone, but once back on Earth, the body can use fat stored in the bone marrow to replenish these losses. The research, which was part of the MARROW experiment, could have implications for the treatment of anemia, osteoporosis, and other diseases on Earth.

Research on 14 astronauts indicates that although space voyages reduce red blood cell count and bone density, the body can recover these losses once back on Earth, with the help of fat stored in the bone marrow. The study, published in“We found that astronauts had significantly less fat in their bone marrow about a month after returning to Earth,” said senior study author Dr. Guy Trudel, a rehabilitation physician and researcher at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa.

“Thankfully, anemia isn’t a problem in space when your body is weightless, but when landing on Earth and potentially on other planets or moons with gravity, anemia would affect energy, endurance, and strength and could threaten mission objectives,” said Dr. Trudel. “If we can find out exactly what’s controlling this anemia, we might be able to improve prevention and treatment.”

“Since red blood cells are made in the bone marrow and bone cells surround the bone marrow, it makes sense that the body would use up the local bone marrow fat as a source of energy to fuel red blood cell and bone production,” said Dr. Trudel. “We look forward to investigating this further in various clinical conditions on Earth.”

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

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