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Does Space Travel Affect Calcium In Human Bones?

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How does space travel affect calcium in human bones?
A proposal to study the change in calcium levels experienced by the astronauts during the course of their space travel.
By, Jackie Scollar
May 24th, 2018
Introduction:
Space travel is becoming more commonly talked about and could affect future generations, but it is important to know the effects on one’s body during space travel in order to make adjustments for the future to ensure the safety of the astronauts. I am hypothesizing that if humans are exposed to the conditions of space for a prolonged period of time, then calcium levels will drop in the body and bone loss will occur. Calcium, along with other hormones, are important for maintaining strong bones.
One study that supports my hypothesis is a study published in 2002 by Scott Smith and Martina Heer who tested the effects of calcium levels and bone metabolism due to space flight. They sent astronauts to space for four to six months and collected data based on a bone marker which was the “urinary …show more content…

If calcium levels were never to be tested at all, we would never know how weak bones could get after a prolonged time in space. The studies showed that “...calcium loss is serious (up to 250 mg/d) and prolonged. Upon returning to earth subjects regained bone at approximately 100 mg/d.”3 It is important to take into account the recovery time that astronauts will have when returning to earth because the rates that astronauts lose calcium in their bones is higher than the rate you gain calcium in bones while on earth. Another important factor to consider about space travel is it “...may provide insight into the treatment of bone disease on earth.”1
One thing in this experiment that could go wrong is any kind of human error. The astronauts could potentially not workout for the full two hours, or any dietary inconsistencies could affect our

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