Role of a combination dietary supplement containing mucopolysaccharides, vitamin C, and collagen on tendon healing in rats
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Date
2018
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Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mucopolysaccharide, vitamin C, andcollagen supplementation on the healing of Achilles tendon in rats.Methods: Sixteen rats were separated into 2 groups. Both Achilles tendons of all rats were transected5 mm above the insertion and repaired using a Kessler suture. After the surgical repair, the study groupreceived the daily recommended amount of the supplement by gastric gavage, while the control groupreceived a placebo. At the end of the third week, the animals were sacrificed. The biomechanicalproperties of the groups were compared with ultimate tensile strength and stiffness tests. The biologicalproperties of the 2 groups were assessed with a histomorphometric comparison to determine theamount of collagen type I (COL1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and transforming growthfactor b1 (TGF-b1) expression in 3 different tissue subgroups (collagen matrix, tenocytes, and endotenonfibroblasts).Results: Analysis of histomorphometric results revealed that the rats receiving dietary supplementsdemonstrated a significant increase in PCNA (mean value of 86 in the control group and 168.85 in thetrial group; p < 0.05) and TGF-b1 (mean value of 87.57 in the control group and 161.85 in the trial group;p < 0.05) in the endotenon fibroblasts of the repair site. However, there was no difference between thegroups in PCNA or TGF-b1 when the collagen matrix and the tenocytes of the repair site were examined.Furthermore, no significant difference could be found between groups in COL1 in any of the 3 tissuesubgroups (collagen matrix, tenocytes, and endotenon fibroblasts). The statistical analysis also indicatedthat the rats receiving supplements did not demonstrate a significant increase in the ultimate tendontensile strength or stiffness.Conclusion: The results of this study revealed no advantage to the oral administration of the trial supplementin collagen synthesis or biomechanical properties in rats after 3 weeks using the presentedstudy design. However, the increased expression of PCNA and TGFb1 seen in the endotenon fibroblasts ofthe repair site might play a role in the continuum of tendon healing.