Capacity of omega-3 fatty acids or eicosapentaenoic acid to counteract weightlessness-induced bone loss by inhibiting NF-κB activation: From cells to bed rest to astronauts
Open accessAbstract
NF-κB is a transcriptional activator of many genes, including some that lead to muscle atrophy and bone resorption—significant concerns for astronauts. NF-κB activation is inhibited by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but the influence of this omega-3 fatty acid on the effects of weightlessness are unknown. We report here cellular, ground analogue, and spaceflight findings. We investigated the effects of EPA on differentiation of RAW264.7 monocyte/macrophage cells induced by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and on activation of NF-κB by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) or exposure to modeled weightlessness. EPA (50 µM for 24 hours) inhibited RANKL-induced differentiation and decreased activation of NF-κB induced by 0.2 µg/mL of TNF-α for 30 minutes or by modeled weightlessness for 24 hours (p < .05). In human studies, we evaluated whether NF-κB activation was altered after short-duration spaceflight and determined the relationship between intake of omega-3 fatty acids and markers of bone resorption during bed rest and the relationship between fish intake and bone mineral density after long-duration spaceflight. NF-κB was elevated in crew members after short-duration spaceflight, and higher consumption of fish (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) was associated with reduced loss of bone mineral density after flight (p < .05). Also supporting the cell study findings, a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with less N-telopeptide excretion during bed rest (Pearson r = –0.62, p < .05). Together these data provide mechanistic cellular and preliminary human evidence of the potential for EPA to counteract bone loss associated with spaceflight. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
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Fish intake, likely secondary to omega-3 fatty acid intake, is beneficial for bone health.
“Fish intake, likely secondary to omega-3 fatty acid intake, is beneficial for bone health86.”
From Red risks for a journey to the red planet: The highest priority human health risks for a mission to Mars (2020) · cites this paper as [86]
The discussion (page unavailable) reports less whole-body bone mineral density loss after spaceflight among crew members who ate more fish and links this finding to omega-3 intake. It describes increased fish intake as a possible countermeasure and calls for intervention studies, so the unqualified statement that fish intake is beneficial for bone health goes beyond its preliminary evidence. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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- Authors
- Zwart, S. R., Pierson, D., Mehta, S., Gonda, S., & Smith, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Universities Space Research Association (US)
- Johnson Space Center (US)
- Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc., Houston, TX, USA
- Corresponding author
- Zwart, Sara R
- Venue
- Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-04-30
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1049-1057
- ISSN
- 0884-0431 (ISSN-L)
- 1523-4681
- OpenAlex
- W2063570643
- Cited by
- 122
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 4.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Keywords
- omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, microgravity, bone loss, NF-κB activation, RANKL, osteoclastogenesis, TNF-α, spaceflight, bone mineral density, fish consumption, bed rest, N-telopeptide, bone resorption, astronauts
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Bed Rest, Bone Resorption, Cell Differentiation, Cell Line, Female, Humans, Macrophages, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoclasts, Space Flight, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Weightlessness, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, NF-kappa B, Mice, RANK Ligand
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