The Effect of Microgravity on Parathyroid Hormone Secretion: A Meta-Analysis

Background: The relationship between microgravity and parathyroid hormone (PTH), a keystone of bone mineral density, remains controversial. Bone loss is prominent, ongoing issue in spaceflight, PTH has been suggested as treatment for microgravity-induced osteopenia, indicating the importance this hormone. This systematic review meta-analysis aimed to evaluate association exposure production PTH. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar were searched studies reporting levels during after microgravity. Non-peer-reviewed articles, lacking control groups, articles published earlier than 2002 excluded. Twelve from present, with total 145 subjects, identified standardized mean differences baseline combined random effects model. Two-way analysis variance (ANOVA) Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) testing on weighted was conducted obtain 95% confidence intervals. Results: Compared measurements, changes are found exposure. In-flight significantly decrease (P < 0.01), post-flight show increases. Furthermore, there evidence an interaction experimental condition (real or simulated microgravity) time removal Conclusions: findings suggest that affects gland function decreases in-flight increase at 7 days post-flight. Experimental also appears play role recovery timeline J Endocrinol Metab. 2023;13(1):1-12 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem849