title: Biological countermeasures in space radiation health.
abstract: Exposure to the types of ionizing radiation encountered during space travel may cause a number of health-related problems, but the primary concern is related to the increased risk of cancer induction in astronauts. The major types of radiation considered to be of importance during space travel are protons and particles of high atomic number and high energy (HZE particles). It is now clear that biological countermeasures can be used to prevent or reduce the levels of biological consequences resulting from exposure to protons or HZE particles, including the induction of cancer, immunosuppression and neurological defects caused by these types of ionizing radiation. Research related to the dietary additions of agents to minimize the risks of developing health-related problems which can result from exposure to space radiations is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ann R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009694:Nucleic Acid Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013026:Space Flight; D014358:Trypsin Inhibitor, Bowman-Birk Soybean / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009694:Nucleic Acid Precursors; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D014358:Trypsin Inhibitor, Bowman-Birk Soybean; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors