Dietary countermeasure mitigates simulated spaceflight-induced osteopenia in mice

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 6484
• Main Authors: Steczina, Sonette, Tahimic, Candice G. T., Pendleton, Megan, M’Saad, Ons, Lowe, Moniece, Alwood, Joshua S., Halloran, Bernard P., Globus, Ruth K., Schreurs, Ann-Sofie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.04.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13/100; 13/106; 59/36; 631/154/433; 64/60; 692/4023/1671/63; Animals; Bone Density - physiology; Bone Density - radiation effects; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - diagnosis; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - etiology; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - physiopathology; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - prevention & control; Bone loss; Cosmic Radiation - adverse effects; Diet; Dietary supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Food, Preserved; Hindlimb Suspension - adverse effects; Hindlimb Suspension - physiology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Ionizing radiation; Male; Mechanical properties; Mice; Microgravity; multidisciplinary; Osteopenia; Prunus domestica; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Skeleton - diagnostic imaging; Skeleton - physiopathology; Skeleton - radiation effects; Space Flight; Unloading; X-Ray Microtomography
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63404-x

Spaceflight is a unique environment that includes at least two factors which can negatively impact skeletal health: microgravity and ionizing radiation. We have previously shown that a diet supplemented with dried plum powder (DP) prevented radiation-induced bone loss in mice. In this study, we investigated the capacity of the DP diet to prevent bone loss in mice following exposure to simulated spaceflight, combining microgravity (by hindlimb unloading) and radiation exposure. The DP diet was effective at preventing most decrements in bone micro-architectural and mechanical properties due to hindlimb unloading alone and simulated spaceflight. Furthermore, we show that the DP diet can protect osteoprogenitors from impairments resulting from simulated microgravity. Based on our findings, a dietary supplementation with DP could be an effective countermeasure against the skeletal deficits observed in astronauts during spaceflight.