American scientists from the University of California and the Forsyth Institute in Cambridge have developed a new remedy that prevents bone loss in microgravity conditions. The medicine was designed to protect the health of people who stay in space for a long time. To work published In the scientific journal NPJ Microgravity.
Astronauts in low Earth orbit lose up to 1% of bone mass on the moon, increasing the risk of fractures during extraterrestrial missions and later in life. The reduction of mechanical stress due to microgravity causes bone loss 12 times faster than that occurring on Earth.
Today, International Space Station crew members must exercise regularly to maintain skeletal strength, but exercise does not always help slow degenerative processes.
Scientists have developed a special “smart” molecule, BP-NELL-PEG, which stimulates the growth of bone tissue without significant side effects. The substance was tested on two groups of laboratory mice; The first of these lasted nine weeks in weightlessness, and the second half remained the same length. No adverse changes were found in the body of rodents receiving BP-NELL-PEG.
Co-author of the study, Dr. Ben Wu stated that these developments could also be used to treat patients with severe osteoporosis and other bone diseases on Earth.
Previous scientists I learnedHow Kombucha could help humans colonize the Moon, Mars and other worlds.
Source: Gazeta
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