Vitamin E Speeds Fracture Healing

INTRODUCTION
Researchers in Turkey have discovered that alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) can speed healing of fractures in rabbits.

The researchers injected alpha-tocopherol into ten rabbits and left another group of ten rabbits untreated. The right femurs of all the animals were fractured. Treatment with alpha-tocopherol began on the day of the fracture and lasted for five days.

After 21 days, fracture healing had progressed farther in the alpha-tocopherol-treated group than in the control group. After examining the tissue of both groups, researchers determined that the group treated with the vitamin E experienced a significant improvement compared to the untreated group. The researchers suggested that this improvement resulted from alpha-tocopherol's ability to quench free radicals in the fracture area.

The study authors wrote, 'We conclude that alpha-tocopherol may affect fracture healing favourably and might be useful as a therapeutic agent in clinical fracture management.'

References:

Durak K, Sonmez G, Sarisozen B, Ozkan S, Kaya M, Ozturk C. Histological assessment of the effect of alpha-tocopherol on fracture healing in rabbits. J Int Med Res. 2003 Jan-Feb;31(1):26-30.

The information in this article is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional, and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA.

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