Vitamin D3 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have beneficial effects on fracture union in an experimental rat model

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the influences of vitamin D3 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on fracture union in rats radiologically, histologically, and biomechanically.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (mean weight: 435±31.15 g; range, 398 to 510 g) were indiscriminately separated into four groups, with 12 rats in each: Group 1 was the control group, Group 2 received vitamin D3, Group 3 received omega-3 PUFA, and Group 4 received both vitamin D3 and omega-3 PUFA. One day after surgery, only one intramuscular dose of 50,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 was administered to Group 2. From the first postoperative day until sacrification, 300 mg/kg omega-3 PUFA by oral feeding was administered to Group 3. In Group 4, both an intramuscular dose of 50,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 on the initial postoperative day and 300 mg/kg omega-3 PUFA were administered by oral feeding until sacrification. All rats were sacrificed by intracardiac potassium injection at the sixth postoperative week, and radiological, biomechanical, and histological studies were conducted.

Results: According to the radiological scores, the best scores were obtained in Group 4, and callus density and ossification were advanced in Groups 2 and 3 compared to Group 1. There was no statistically significant distinction between Groups 3 and 4, while a significant distinction was found between Group 4 and Groups 1 and 2. Biomechanically, the advanced values were attained in Groups 1 and 3. However, there was no statistically significant distinction among the groups. Histologically, although the advanced scores were attained in Groups 3 and 4, there was no statistically significant distinction among the groups.

Conclusion: The use of omega-3 PUFA together with vitamin D3 might have beneficial influences on fracture union. In the future, the combination of omega-3 PUFA and vitamin D3 might be used as an encouraging treatment choice that contributes to fracture healing.

Citation: Kafadar İH, Yalçın Y, Çakar B. Vitamin D3 and omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have beneficial effects on fracture union in an experimental rat model. Jt Dis Relat Surg 2024;35(1):121-129. doi: 10.52312/jdrs.2023.1397.

The study protocol was approved by the Erciyes University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (date: 13.01.2016, no: 16/020). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

The study control/supervision, conception and design were performed: I.H.K.; Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed, the first draft of the manuscript was written: I.H.K., Y.Y., B.Ç.; The final checks of the article were performed: I.H.K., B.Ç.; All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.