Bone fat comes to the aid of the health of astronauts in space | world | Space | astronauts | health | erythrocytes | research | WORLD

Missions space have a physical value astronauts: loss of red blood cells and bone mass, although researchers have found that the fat surrounding the bone marrow helps to avoid health complications.

The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, follows up on the first study by co-author Guy Trudel, a scientist and rehabilitation therapist at the Ottawa Hospital, Canada, which found that astronauts lost 54% more red blood cells in space than on earth.

To gain more information, the researchers monitored the health of 14 astronauts before, during, and after their six-month stay on the International Space Station, including through MRI scans.

The findings suggest that astronauts lose 4.2% bone marrow fat a month after returning to land, although they gradually return to their previous level.

According to the researchers, this loss will occur because astronauts’ bodies use this fat as an energy source when they lose red blood cells and muscle mass in space.

In short, these three elements are closely related, the bone marrow produces red blood cells and, in turn, becomes covered with this bone fat, which plays a key role in reducing the number of blood cells or bone mass.

The results of the study will serve not only to improve knowledge of what Trudel calls “space anemia”but also to provide information that helps improve the mobility of patients who have lost muscle or bone mass after months of illness and immobility.

Source: EFE

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