Supplementary vitamin C does not accelerate bone healing in a rat tibia fracture model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of ascorbic acid supplementation on bone healing after rat tibia fracture.


METHODS
Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into Vitamin C (Group A) and sham (Group B) groups (15 rats each). Group A received 200 mg intraperitoneally per kg per day of ascorbic acid and Group B was given saline 5 ml per kg per day intraperitoneally once a day. The animals were caged in pairs and allowed free access to tap water and a standard rodent chow ad libitum. Fractures were produced manually, they were not stabilized, and unprotected weight-bearing was allowed. At two, four, and six weeks post-fracture, the rats in both groups were anesthetized and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Callus tissue was dissected, prepared, and analyzed histologically. Histomorphological analysis was performed at six weeks post-fracture and the extent of fracture healing was determined using a five-point scale.


RESULTS
There were no histological and histomorphological differences between drug-treated animals and the sham in the three different stages studied. By six weeks post-fracture, the five animals of each group had a complete bone union.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the studied conditions, intraperitoneal Vitamin C supplementation does not accelerate the fracture healing process after experimental tibia fracture in rats.


METHODS
Level 2, individual study with experimental design.
Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Prof. Nova Monteiro, Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Vincenzo
V
Giordano
Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Prof. Nova Monteiro, Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Rodrigo Pires E
RP
Albuquerque
Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Prof. Nova Monteiro, Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Ney Pecegueiro
NP
do Amaral
Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Prof. Nova Monteiro, Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Cristiano Curcio
CC
Chame
Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Prof. Nova Monteiro, Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Fabio
F
de Souza
Department of Histology and Embryology, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), Biomedical Center, UniversidadeEstadual do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Mara Íbis Rodrigues
MÍ
Apfel
Ascorbic acid; Fracture healing; Tibial fractures