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Related Experiment Videos

Renal stone risk assessment during Space Shuttle flights

P A Whitson1, R A Pietrzyk, C Y Pak

  • 1Medical Sciences Division, NASA/Johnson Space Center, KRUG Life Sciences Inc., Houston, Texas 77058, USA.

The Journal of Urology
|November 20, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Astronauts experience increased kidney stone risk during spaceflight due to changes in urinary composition and reduced nutrient intake. Further research into dietary and therapeutic interventions is needed to mitigate this risk.

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Space flight and the risk of renal stones.

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Area of Science:

  • Space medicine
  • Renal physiology
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • Renal stone formation is a concern for astronauts.
  • Metabolic and environmental factors during spaceflight can influence stone risk.
  • Previous research has not fully characterized in-flight risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess metabolic and environmental factors affecting renal stone formation in astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight.
  • To determine the role of dietary factors in relation to urinary risk factors for kidney stones.
  • To characterize the in-flight potential for renal stone formation.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 24-hour urine samples from astronauts pre-flight, during flight, and post-flight.
  • Analyzed urinary and dietary factors associated with renal stone formation.
Keywords:
NASA Center JSCNASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology

Related Experiment Videos

  • Calculated relative urinary supersaturation for common stone-forming salts.

    • Main Results:

    • Urinary composition shifted during flight, favoring calcium-based salt crystallization.
    • Reduced urinary pH and increased urinary calcium levels were observed.
    • Urinary output and citrate levels decreased, while dietary intake of key nutrients was reduced.

    Conclusions:

    • This study provides the first in-flight characterization of renal stone risk in astronauts.
    • Negative contributions to stone risk outweighed protective factors, creating a supersaturated urinary environment.
    • Dietary and pharmacologic therapies are necessary to minimize renal stone risk during and after spaceflight.