Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the daily oral adminstration of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation on bone healing in experimental animals (rabbits).
Material and methods: Eight young male rabbits divided into two groups after induction of open ulnar osteotomy, the experimental group received daily dose of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation from the second post operative day for 28 days. The control group received ordinary diet without any food supplementation. At the end of the fifth week, the animals were sacrificed and the specimens taken for radiological and CT scan densimetry, and histological evaluation carried out for calluses at site of osteotomy.
Results: All ulnar bone osteotomies in both groups united at the end of the fifth week macroscopically and radiologically. There was no significant difference in serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase preoperatively, and at the end of the fifth week. The callus density was measured in site of osteotomy by CT scan densimetry and its mean in experimental group was 331.1 ± 81.3, and control group was 199.7± 32.1. The difference between the experimental and control group was highly significant, (P value is < 0.001). The histological examination of the bone at site of osteotomy showed healing with woven bone predominantly and some lamellar bone and cartilage.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that a daily oral administration of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation enhance bone healing and increase callus density.
Keywords: Vitamin D, calcium, fluoride, vitamin C, dietary supplementation, bone healing.
