Effects of dietary supplementation on bonehealing in bisphosphonate treated rabbits

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the daily oral administration of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation on bone healing in bisphosphonate treated experimental animals (rabbits).
Material and methods: Eight young male rabbits divided into two groups after induction of open ulnar osteotomy, both groups received weekly 1 mg/ kg BW of alendronic acid (alendron) orally starting 6 days before osteotomy for five weeks, the experimental group received daily dose of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation from the second post operative day for four weeks. The control group received ordinary diet. At the end of the fifth week the animals' sacrificed and the specimens taken for radiological and computerized tomography (CT) scan densimetry and histomorphometric evaluation carried out for the callus at site of osteotomy.
Results: All ulnar bone osteotomies in both groups united at the end of the fifth week macroscopically and radiologically. The callus density was measured in site of osteotomy by CT scan densimetry, its mean in the experimental group was 681 ± 219 and in the control group was 492 ± 233. The difference between the experimental and control group was significant, (P value<0.05). The histological examination of the bone at site of osteotomy showed healing with woven bone predominantly and some lamellar bone and cartilage. The mean of histomorphometric evaluation of healing in site of osteotomy were 9.07 ± 0.80 in experimental group, while in control group were 8.70 ± 0.80. The difference between two means was not significant
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that a daily oral administration of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation in bisphosphonate treated rabbits enhance bone healing by increase callus density.
Keywords: Dietary supplementation, bisphosphonate, vitamin D, calcium, fluoride, vitamin C, bone healing.