Bone fat comes to the rescue of the health of astronauts in space

The missions to space have a physical cost to astronauts: loss of red blood cells and bone mass, although researchers have discovered that the fat that surrounds the marrow comes to the rescue to avoid health complications.

The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, continues a first investigation carried out by one of the authors -Guy Trudel, a scientist and rehabilitator at the Ottawa Hospital, Canada- who detected that astronauts lost a 54% more red blood cells in space than they would on the ground.

In order to gain more information, researchers have monitored the health of 14 astronauts before, during and after spending six months on the International Space Station, which has included MRIs, among other tests.

The conclusions obtained suggest that astronauts lose a 4.2% of bone marrow fat a month after returning to land, although they gradually return to previous levels.

This loss would occur, according to the researchers, because the body of astronauts uses that fat as a source of energy when it loses red blood cells and muscle mass in space.

In short, the three elements are closely related, the marrow produces red blood cells and is in turn covered by this bone fat, which plays a key role when there is a decrease in blood cells or bone mass.

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

Source: EFE