Journal of Bone and Mineral Research

As we enter a phase of space exploration that will involve long‐duration flights, there is a need to use ground‐based models to study the long‐term effects of countermeasures to prevent the loss of bone mineral in microgravity. Mineral balances, hormone levels, and bone density were measured for 360 days in nine bed rest subjects treated with an exercise program used by cosmonauts. Four of these subjects received the bisphosphonate, ethane‐1‐hydroxy‐1‐disphosphonate, 900 mg daily, a drug known to inhibit bone resorption. Compared to a 120 day control period, the bisphosphonate combined with exercise reduced negative calcium balances by 50% for the first 120 days, 80% for the second 120 days, and 69% during the third 120 days. Exercise alone had no effect until the second 120 day period, when calcium balance improved 52%. Negative phosphorus balances were not affected by either treatment. Magnesium balances were negative during the first 120 days and returned to nearly normal during the last 240 days in both groups. The combined exercise and bisphosphonate treatment prevented increases in serum ionized calcium and decreases in plasma calcitonin during the first 120 days, as well as trends toward decreases in the mineral density of the femoral neck. These results suggest that bisphosphonates can be efficiently used together with exercise to reduce calcium loss and prevent some of the changes in mineral metabolism during long‐term simulated microgravity.