The effects of alpha-tocopherol supplementation on fracture healing in a postmenopausal osteoporotic rat model

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fractures and may impair fracture healing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether alpha-tocopherol can improve the late-phase fracture healing of osteoporotic bones in ovariectomized rats.METHOD:In total, 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The first group was sham-operated, and the other two groups were ovariectomized. After two months, the right femora of the rats were fractured under anesthesia and internally repaired with K-wires. The sham-operated and ovariectomized control rat groups were administered olive oil (a vehicle), whereas 60 mg/kg of alpha-tocopherol was administered via oral gavage to the alpha-tocopherol group for six days per week over the course of 8 weeks. The rats were sacrificed, and the femora were dissected out. Computed tomography scans and X-rays were performed to assess fracture healing and callus staging, followed by the assessment of callus strengths through the biomechanical testing of the bones.RESULTS:Significantly higher callus volume and callus staging were observed in the ovariectomized control group compared with the sham-operated and alpha-tocopherol groups. The ovariectomized control group also had significantly lower fracture healing scores than the sham-operated group. There were no differences between the alpha-tocopherol and sham-operated groups with respect to the above parameters. The healed femora of the ovariectomized control group demonstrated significantly lower load and strain parameters than the healed femora of the sham-operated group. Alpha-tocopherol supplementation was not able to restore these biomechanical properties.CONCLUSION:Alpha-tocopherol supplementation appeared to promote bone fracture healing in osteoporotic rats but failed to restore the strength of the fractured bone.

Histological evaluation of the ANTIOXIDANT effect of Vitamin E on reversing the negative impact of tartrazine on extraction socket healing. (Randomized controlled trial)

“…Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, may therefore facilitate fracture healing by scavenging the free radicals and relieving oxidative stress. (Mohamad et al, 2012) Healing through dietary strategies is an attractive option for patients, such that healing from delicate oral surgeries occurs as optimally as possible with minimal patient-meditated complications through food choices ( Lau et al, 2013).The healing process in the animal model tends to be faster; therefore, there may be variation in the time frames discussed when using the data to describe the sequence of events post-extraction in humans ( Morjaria, Wilson, & Palmer, 2014).…”

Effects of Vitamin E on Bone Biomechanical and Histomorphometric Parameters in Ovariectomized Rats

“…Vitamin E also reduced the ODFR stimulation of osteoclastic bone resorption [22]. Furthermore, the administration of α -tocopherol was shown to suppress the production of ODFRs in the early stages of fracture healing in rabbits [38], increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes in Ovx rats [39], and enhance bone fracture healing in its early [40] and late phases [41] in Ovx rats and in male rats [42]. In addition, the results of a population study by Melhus et al [43] indicated the important role of adequate intake of dietary vitamin E in reducing the risk of hip fracture in current smokers.…”

Ovariectomy-Induced Osteopenia Influences the Middle and Late Periods of Bone Healing in a Mouse Femoral Osteotomy Model

“…Among them, the mechanical properties, in terms of ultimate load, stiffness and energy to failure were lower in the OVX group than the Sham group. In addition, investigations by Mohamad et al 17 showed that after two months of fracture, there was a significant reduction of mechanical strength in healing fractures and increase in callus volume of the OVX group. All these studies indicated that ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis / osteopenia had a negative effect on the mechanical properties of bone callus, and this was in agreement with our results.…”

“…Most previous studies using rat models had also shown the negative effect of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis / osteopenia on bone healing [13][14][15][16][17] . In a study by Namkung-Matthai et al 14 , a significant reduction in mechanical strength of healing fractures was found at 3 weeks after fracture in OVX rats.…”

“…However, due to the complexities of the healing of osteoporotic fractures, animal osteoporotic / osteopenic models may be more appropriate to study the effects of osteoporosis in more details and to test drugs on the fracture repair process 12 . Previous animal studies have shown that osteoporosis impair the fractures healing by observation of the formation of callus, mineralization and mechanical properties [13][14][15][16][17] . Nevertheless, most of the obtained results and conclusions of experiments were from studies based on rat models.…”