Short Term Bed Rest Study: Evaluation of the Use of Artificial Gravity, Induced by Short-arm Centrifugation

The SAG study was a single center, open-label crossover trial with healthy men conducted in three campaigns at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany.

The subjects were quasi randomized alternatively by enrolment to undertake the different training interventions or to be in the control group during 5 days of immobilisation in 6° head down tilt position. The subjects were quasi randomized either to the one of the training programs or the non-training group depending on the arrival at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine.

The study started November 01st, 2010 and was finished May 29th, 2011. The first campaign lasted from November 01st to November 21sh, 2010, the second campaign from January 10th to January 30th, 2011 and the third campaign from May 09th to May 29th, 2011.

Each campaign comprised a 5 day adaptation-, a 5 day intervention phase in HDT bed rest, and a 5 day recovery phase (15 days in total) in-house at the Metabolic Ward of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine.

Baseline Data were collected during the adaptation phase (BDC Baseline Data Collection) when subjects could move free inside the lab. The intervention was administered during the bed rest phase where the subjects had to lie in bed in 6° head down tilt (HDT Head Down Tilt) position and were not allowed to get up. Recumbency was to be adhered to at all times including all activities (hygienic procedures, leisure activities). The bed rest phase was followed by a recovery phase (R+).

Inclusion criteria

• • Healthy male test subjects, aged between 20 and 45 years old with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20 - 26 kg/m2 and a height of 158 - 190 cm (62 - 75 inches)

• 65 - 85 kg
• Not a competitive athlete
• Non-smoker, for at least six months before the start of the study
• In the position to participate in the complete study
• Demonstrable social insurance and official certificate of absence of criminal record
• Successful completion of screening examination
• Provision of Declaration on Consent at the start of the study

Exclusion criteria

• • Drug, medication or alcohol abuse (regular consumption of more than 20-30 g alcohol/day)

• Smoking
• Vegetarian, vegan
• Migraine
• Previous psychiatric illness
• Claustrophobia
• Hiatus hernia
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux
• Diabetes mellitus
• Rheumatic illness
• Muscle or joint disorder
• Prolapse of intervertebral disk
• Pronounced orthostatic intolerance
• Hyperlipidaemia (deviations from standard values, standard values: TG < 180 mg/dl, cumulative CH < 200 mg/dl, HDL > 35 mg/dl, LDL < 160 mg/dl)
• Renal dysfunction (deviation from plasma creatinin standard values, standard value < 1.20 mg/dl)
• Thyroid dysfunction (deviation from standard values for plasma TSH, standard value TSH 0.27 - 4.20 U/l)
• Hyperhomocysteinemia (deviation from standard value for plasma homocysteine, standard value homocysteine >15 µmol/l)
• Hyper-, Hypouricemia (deviation from plasma uric acid standard values, age dependent standard value 3.0-6.9 mg/dl)
• Hyper-, Hypocalcemia (deviation from plasma calcium standard values, age dependent standard value 2.15-2.64 mmol/l)
• Anaemia: (< as standard values for plasma haemoglobin, standard values for men 13.5-17.5 g/dl)
• Iron deficiency: ferritin < 30 µg/l
• Vitamin D deficiency: D3-25-OH < 50 ng/ml
• Blood gas values deviating from the normal values:

• pH 7.38-7.42
• pCO2 34-45 mmHg
• pO2 79-98 mmHg
• HCO3 20-28 mmol/l
• Base deviation ± 2 mmol/l
• Family history of thrombosis or positive response in thrombosis screening procedure: Biochemical analysis of the following parameter: ATIII, protein C and S activities, factor V Leiden, prothrombin mutants, lupus PTT
• Chronic back complaints
• Bone fracture in the year preceding the study
• Bone density of the femur and lower spine (L1-L4) 1.5 SD ≤ t-score
• Metal implants or other kinds of bone synthesis materials
• Participation in another clinical study within the last 2 months before start of this study
• Imprisoned at the time of the study
• Any other condition which makes the test subject unsuitable for study inclusion in the opinion of the examiner