Nutritional Countermeasures to Ameliorate Losses in Muscle Mass and Function

We have completed this project and have studied the effects of chronically elevated cortisol and hypocaloric diet throughout 14 days of bed rest on muscle protein, lean body mass (LBM), and muscle function. We have completed 13 subjects. Preliminary evidence indicates that combined elevation of cortisol and a hypocaloric diet throughout bed rest increases muscle resistance to the action of insulin and increases the loss of lean body mass. This investigation is relevant to both clinical and astronaut populations, as both are prone to under-nutrition during a stress state. Further, we intend to investigate nutritional and exercise countermeasures with this model to determine an optimal operational countermeasure that can be economically (in terms of crew time and payload) utilized to ameliorate muscle loss during prolonged space flight.

Earth-based Implications: Prolonged inactivity is inherent to trauma, serious injury, or major surgery. These events represent a significant stress to the patient such that the resultant muscle loss and weakness impairs subsequent rehabilitation. The requirement for hospital intensive care often entails hypocaloric intake in the patient, thereby further exacerbating the deleterious effects of hospitalization. This project was designed to investigate countermeasures that will maintain muscle mass and function during periods of prolonged inactivity. The proposed interventions are primarily nutritional, with the idea that minimal activity will enhance nutritional effectiveness. The nutritional intervention is of unique design and composition so as to have a maximal benefit on a gram per gram basis. Thus, these investigations are directly applicable and translatable to patient populations.

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