Research conducted by Atsushi Okada from the nephro-urology department at Nagoya City University Graduate School and others has revealed that the risk of kidney stone disease increases for astronauts who remain in space for a long period of time because diminishing bone mass triggers a rise in calcium levels in urine.
However, the researchers also discovered that the malady, which causes severe pain in the upper and lower back, can be prevented by ingesting a therapeutic agent used to treat osteoporosis before taking flight.
The professor hopes their latest finding will improve the health of astronauts and ensure their safety.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.