Osteoporosis is not just an Earthling problem today.
Leigh Gabel, an exercise scientist at the University of Calgary in Canada, whose article was published in Scientific Reports on June 30, 2022, argues that bones are living organs, but “Alive and active, they are also constantly forming.” uses the phrase. Stating that in this case, loss of strength in strength bones is normal in non-gravity environments, Gabel examined a group of 14 men and 3 women, whose average age was 47, who spent between four and seven months in space.
Precise and long-term measurements were made
The investigation used high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT, which can measure 3-dimensional bone microarchitecture at scales of 61 microns thinner than the thickness of a human hair, as well as HR-pQCT, to image the bony structure of the lower leg shinbone.
Big problem for voyages like Mars
Stating that it is worrying for the bones of astronauts or space tourists, especially during long-term space trips to Mars, Gabel added, “We hope for now that this bone resorption is a plateau phase, after a while, it stops losing bone.”
References
Gabel, Leigh, et al. “Incomplete Recovery of Bone Strength and Trabecular Microarchitecture at the Distal Tibia 1 Year after Return from Long Duration Spaceflight.” Scientific Reports, vol. 12, no. 1, June 2022, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13461-1.
