This is another study in which one of the authors found that astronauts lost 54% more red blood cells in space than on Earth.
Space travel has a physical cost to astronauts: loss of red blood cells and bone mass, although researchers have discovered that the fat around the marrow comes to the rescue to avoid health problems.
The study was published in the journal Science Natural communicationGuy Trudel, a scientist and rehabilitator at the Ottawa Hospital in Canada, follows up on the first investigation by Guy Trudel, one of the authors, who found that astronauts lose 54% more red blood cells in space than they do on land. .
To get more information, the researchers monitored the health of 14 astronauts before and after spending six months on the International Space Station, including MRIs, among other tests.
The results obtained suggest that astronauts lose 4.2% of bone marrow fat one month after returning to Earth, although they gradually recover their previous levels.
According to the researchers, this loss occurs because astronauts’ bodies use that fat as an energy source while losing red blood cells and muscle mass in space.
In short, all three components are closely related, the marrow makes red blood cells and this bone is covered with fat, which plays an important role when blood cells or bone mass decreases.
The results of the study will not only improve knowledge of what Trudel calls “space anemia,” but also provide information to help improve mobility in patients suffering from loss of muscle or bone mass after months of illness and immobility.
