Muscle wasting
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: A sample size of 8 astronauts has been granted by the European Space Agency (ESA), and this number is not negotiable. In order to increase the study power, we will include 16 subjects into ea
Sponsors
Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Astronaut group: - Astronauts with a planned mission with a minimum of 5 months and a maximum of one year. Master Athlete group: - Regular training (>4 hrs per week) and participation in master athletics events. - Age (+/- 2 years) and sex matched to one participant of the astronauts - Body mass index = 28 kg/m² Non-physically active group: - Physical activity limited to 20 kilocalories per kg/Bodyweight per week - Age (+/- 2 years) and sex matched to one participant of the astronauts - Body mass index =28 kg/m² All groups: - Ability to perform VO2max testing, as defined by local med-ops - Ability to consent - Agreement and signed informed consent before the study
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: • Severe injuries or abnormalities of the lower extremity that interfere with muscle strength testing or vertical jump testing • Any debilitating disease, such as cancer or severe auto-immune diseases (use of anti-inflammatory drugs, statins therapy) that are likely to affect the inflammatory / anti-inflammatory balance • Any chronic infectious disease (hepatitis, HIV) that is likely to affect the inflammatory / anti-inflammatory balance
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| It is the governing hypothesis of this research that spaceflight-induced physical deconditioning and especially muscle wasting has effects beyond impeded muscle function, and that these impact on cardiometabolic risk and biological age. For astronauts, we plan -two pre-flight measurements: L-180 to L-120 biosamples + performance and L-105 to L-70 biosamples + performance) -four post-flight measurements: R+1 only biosamples and R+6 to R+10 only performance, R+12 to R+16 only biosamples and R+80 to R+100 only performance. -Moreover, two more post-BDC sessions are optional at R+330 to R+400 biosamples + performance and at R+720 to R+1050 biosamples + performance. These sessions are optional but specifically important for addressing the effects of spaceflight on biological age. - The following endpoints will be assessed: •M1Three countermovement jumps (CMJ) on a force plate •M2Two series of hops on one leg on a force plate •M3Three slow maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the knee extensors (knee extension) •M4Three explosive maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the knee extensors (knee extension •M5Ramp test on a cycle ergometer (VO2max) •M6MRI session to determine muscle mass and ectopic fat in the liver, the heart and the abdomen •M7Arterial blood pressure •M8Blood samples, i.e. 1x 10 mL EDTA-K2 tube and 1x 3ml EDTA-K2 tube for BHT protocol and 1x 5 mL Gel Silica Tubes (in total 17 ± 0.5 ml) •M9Urine sample (Urine collection kit (from 50 ml final 2x2 ml plus o.5 ml with pellet)) •M10Stool sample (Stool collection kit (10 ml +/-1ml)) •M11Bioelectrical impedance | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| a. to assess deteriorations in aerobic performance after spaceflight and recovery thereafter, b. to assess deteriorations in muscle strength after spaceflight and recovery thereafter, c. to assess deteriorations in muscle power after spaceflight and recovery thereafter, d. to assess the extent of muscle wasting during spaceflight, e. to assess the extent of subcutaneous and ectopic fat accrual (= myosteatosis (skeletal muscle), visceral fat, hepatic fat and myocardial triglycerides) after spaceflight, f. to assess how alterations in myocardial triglycerides a d in diastolic function of the heart are related to each other, g. to assess alterations in central and peripheral blood pressure after spaceflight, h. to assess the time course of the pro-/anti-inflammatory balance after space flight, i. to assess alterations in biological age with two different measurements after space flight, j. to assess alterations in the gut microbiome after space flight, k. to assess the specific alterations in the metabolome after spaceflight, with a specific focus on metabolites related to inflammation and bioenergetics, l. l) to assess the extent to which a)-i) recover in the long term after spaceflight, m. m) to compare a)-i) to time-related changes in masters athletes and in non-exercisers; this will address e.g. whether astronauts experience accelerated or decelerated sarcopenia and dynapenia, n. to compare a)-i) to differences between masters athletes and non-exercisers; this will provide e.g. a glimpse at insights into the interaction between microgravity, muscle wasting and countermeasure effects, o. to compare the changes in biological age and physical performance after spaceflight to the changes of the same parameters after 60d bed rest (measured during AGBRESA study) p. to compare h)-m) to values of inflammatory profile observed in centenarians; this will provide e.g. a glimpse at inflammaging marker balance associated with longevity and physical exercise in astronauts, q. t | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactJörn Rittweger
Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin, DLR
Outcome results
None listed