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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 89-B, Issue 3,
402-407.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.89B3.18007 Copyright © 2007 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery Effect of vitamin C on fracture healing in elderly Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi ratsT. Alcantara-Martos, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; A. D. Delgado-Martinez, MD, PhD, FEBOT Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor2; M. V. Vega, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgeon Assistant2; M. T. Carrascal, PhD, Industrial Engineer, Professor3; and L. Munuera-Martinez, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor4
1 Hospital "San Agustin", Avda de San Cristobal S/N, 23700 Linares, Jaén, Spain. Correspondence should be sent to Dr T. Alcantara-Martos at San Sebastián, 75 23640 - Torredelcampo, Jaén, Spain; e-mail: toalma{at}telefonica.net
We studied the effect of vitamin C on fracture healing in the elderly. A total of 80 elderly Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi rats were divided into four groups with different rates of vitamin C intake. A closed bilateral fracture was made in the middle third of the femur of each rat. Five weeks after fracture the femora were analysed by mechanical and histological testing. The groups with the lower vitamin C intake demonstrated a lower mechanical resistance of the healing callus and a lower histological grade. The vitamin C levels in blood during healing correlated with the torque resistance of the callus formed (r = 0.525). Therefore, the supplementary vitamin C improved the mechanical resistance of the fracture callus in elderly rats. If these results are similar in humans, vitamin C supplementation should be recommended during fracture healing in the elderly. This article has been cited by other articles:
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