How to Speed Fracture Healing
Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Those of us who have experienced a significant fracture likely recall first the pain of the injury, then we
often focus our attention on the prospect of time in a cast or other form of extended immobilization.
We imagine the discomfort and limitations that will ensue, and after all else settles down, we often
wonder, “How strong are my bones anyway, and will I fracture again?”
Nature, on the other hand, has no such questions, but moves swiftly to initiate healing. Guided by a
complex intelligence that we do not yet fully understand, bone repairs itself — and over a few months
is made whole again. The fracture self‐repair process is spontaneous, natural, and seeks no direction
from us, but what we do during this time is of unrecognized importance. The stage we set for healing
greatly influences the speed, comfort, and completeness of the bone renewal process. Further, life‐
supporting changes made in response to a fracture can strengthen our entire skeleton and reduce the
likelihood of future fractures.
Physiology of fracture healing
Fracture healing involves complex processes of cell and tissue proliferation and differentiation. Many
players are involved, including growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants, bone breakdown
(osteoclast) and bone‐building (osteoblast) cells, hormones, amino acids, and uncounted nutrients.
Fracture healing can be divided into three phases. The inflammation phase is the first stage of healing.
Immediately upon fracture, a blood clot forms, allowing the influx of inflammatory, clean‐up cells to
the wound area. This is followed by a cytokine cascade that brings the repair cells into the fracture gap.
These cells immediately begin to differentiate into specialized cells that build new bone tissue
(osteoblasts) and new cartilage (chondroblasts). Over the next few months, these cells begin the repair
process, laying down new bone matrix and cartilage. At this initial stage, osteoclast cells dissolve and
recycle bone debris.
The second, reparative stage begins about two weeks after the fracture occurs. In this stage, proteins
produced by the osteoblasts and chondroblasts begin to consolidate into what is known as a soft
callus. This soft, new bone substance eventually hardens into a hard callus as the bone weaves
together over a 6‐ to 12‐week time period.
The final step of fracture repair is known as the remodeling phase. At this stage the callus begins to
mature and remodel itself. Woven bone is remodeled into stronger lamellar bone by the orchestrated
action of both osteoblast bone formation cells and osteoclast bone resorption cells.1
The nutritional demands of healing
Each stage of the fracture healing process brings with it increased nutritional demands. For starters,
the whole process requires a great deal of energy—which is generally supplied through the intake of
calories in food. Next, healing requires the synthesis of new proteins, which is dependent upon an
ample supply of amino acids derived from dietary proteins. An adequate blood supply is also
mandatory for fracture healing, so anything that diminishes blood flow (such as smoking or poor
circulation) slows the healing process. Also, the trauma of the fracture itself creates a biochemical
burst of pro‐oxidants (free radicals), causing oxidative stress that can overwhelm the body’s
antioxidant reserves.
Nutritional steps to accelerate fracture healing
People who have had a fracture aren’t often told that they can do anything to make their bones heal
faster – at most, they’re told to limit the use of the injured bone or limb (not easy to do if the fracture
is in your spine!). But there are a number of methods you can employ to reduce your healing time:
Provide the body with adequate energy. Fracture healing requires more energy than you might expect.
Thus, it’s appropriate to increase your caloric intake to promote healing. In traumatic fractures of the
long bones, for example, there is an immediate increase in metabolic demands that can translate into a
caloric demand three times that of normal. While a normally active adult may require 2,500 calories a
day, a bedridden, injured patient with multiple fractures may need 6,000 calories per day!2
If this demand is not met, the healing process is compromised.3
Check your protein intake. Bone can be imagined as being somewhat like a sponge made of living
protein upon which mineral crystals are embedded. By volume, roughly half of bone is comprised of
protein. When a fracture occurs, the body is called upon to gather protein building blocks together to
synthesize a new structural bone protein matrix. In addition, protein supplementation increases
growth factors like insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), a polypeptide that exerts a positive effect on
skeletal integrity, muscle strength, immune response, and bone renewal.4 Protein malnutrition or
under‐nutrition leads to a “rubbery” callus, compared to the rigid calluses of those with adequate or
high protein intake. Numerous studies document the acceleration of fracture healing with even a
modest 10‐ to 20‐gram increase in protein intake. The benefits of supplemental protein are important
to everyone and especially important to those with malnutrition or low baseline protein intake. In fact,
among elderly hip fracture patients, poor protein status at the time of fracture predicts fracture
outcome. Those with low protein status take longer to heal, and have more complications, including
death.5
Specific amino acids of special importance include lysine, arginine, proline, glycine, cystine, and
glutamine. Lysine, for example, is known to enhance calcium absorption, increase the amount of
calcium absorbed into the bone matrix, and aid in the regeneration of tissue.
Increase anti-inflammatory nutrients. Antioxidants repair oxidative damage. When a bone fracture
occurs, a remarkable yield of free radicals is generated by the damaged tissues. In particular, this
damage occurs as the tightly bound collagen strands running through the mineral phase of bone are
forcefully broken. These ruptured collagen strands interact with oxygen‐yielding oxygen radical
metabolites.6
These free radicals are associated with inflammation, further breakdown of bone
collagen, and excessive bone turnover. In fracture healing, increased free‐radical production can
overwhelm the natural anti‐oxidant defense mechanisms. In such cases, antioxidants — including
vitamins E and C, lycopene, and alpha‐lipoic acid — have been suggested to be beneficial in
suppressing the destructive effect of oxidant free radicals on whole body systems and improving
fracture healing in animal models and cultured human cell lines.6
Inflammation is an essential component of the healing process in bone. Although painful, it is an
important part of the cleaning‐up and rebuilding process. This inflammatory process involves the
cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes COX‐1 and COX‐2. Many of our standard non‐steroidal anti‐
inflammatory drugs act by inhibiting the COX‐1 and COX‐2 enzymes—which relieves the pain, but also
delays healing. On the other hand, nourishing the body to reduce inflammation naturally speeds
healing. Vitamin C, bioflavonoids and flavonols such as quercitin and proanthrocydins, and omega‐3
fatty acids naturally soothe the inflammatory process and speed healing.
Boost your mineral intake. By weight, bone is roughly 70% minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium,
silicon, zinc, etc.) and fracture healing requires available minerals. Most of us under‐consume minerals
on an everyday basis, so drawing minerals to the healing site can often involve a process of “stealing
from Peter to pay Paul.” (See our 20 key bone nutrients for details on average mineral intake.) Specific
key minerals for fracture healing include the following:
ZINC. Some 200 enzymes require zinc for their functioning. Many of these functions involve cell
proliferation. Zinc supplementation aids in callus formation, enhances bone protein production,
and thus stimulates fracture healing.7
COPPER. Copper aids in the formation of bone collagen and is important to the healing process.
The body’s demand for both copper and zinc rises according to the severity of the trauma.8
CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS. The main minerals in bone are calcium and phosphorus, in the form of
calcium hydroxyapatite crystals. This hydroxyapatite compound plays an important role in
regulating the elastic stiffness and tensile strength of bone.9
The building and rebuilding of bone tissue requires adequate supplies of both calcium and phosphorus, which can be supplied
from diet and bone reserves. Early research suggested that fractures can heal normally
independent of dietary calcium and indeed it has been found that during the first few weeks of
healing, calcium is drawn from the skeleton for fracture healing. After that, the diet provides
the calcium necessary for fracture repair.10
Calcium adequacy at the RDA level is important, but unusually high intakes do not appear to speed fracture healing. As calcium absorption is
dependent on vitamin D, these nutrients work synergistically. Human studies, in fact, suggest
that for best fracture healing both calcium and vitamin D should be obtained in optimum daily
levels.11
Most of us consume plenty of phosphorus and often too much if the diet is high in
processed foods and colas. However, the elderly, dieters, and those on low protein diets often
do not consume enough phosphorus to meet the needs of new bone formation.12
SILICON. It has long been known that bioactive silicon (silica) plays an important role in bone
collagen synthesis. A 2005 human study found bioactive silicon to enhance the effects of
calcium and vitamin D3 on new bone formation.13
Enhance vitamin intake. While protein and minerals may be the building blocks, vitamins are the
catalysts for many biochemical reactions and are equally important. In fracture healing, we can clearly
identify the vital roles of several vitamins including vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin K as well as the
energy‐producing B vitamins, which should all be taken in therapeutic doses:
VITAMIN C is essential for proper synthesis of the bone collagen protein matrix. It is also one of
the most important antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory nutrients. In severe vitamin C
deficiency, collagen becomes too unstable to function properly, which results in skin lesions
and fragile blood vessels with eventual bleeding from all mucous membranes. A tendency to
black and blue without reason is most often a sign of sub‐clinical vitamin C deficiency. Because
of its essential role in bone collagen formation, adequate vitamin C is required for fracture
healing. Several animal studies document this fact. For example, a small Turkish rat study
showed that vitamin C supplementation accelerated the fracture healing process.14
A similar, yet larger, Spanish study also documented that rats with higher vitamin C blood levels
developed a stronger fracture callus than did those with low blood levels.15
VITAMIN D is the primary regulator of calcium absorption and without adequate vitamin D
calcium blood level drops making less calcium available for fracture healing. Studies as early as
1945 documented that low vitamin D levels led to suboptimal fracture healing and the
administration of vitamin D accelerated initial fracture callus mineralization.16
Further, we now know that vitamin D, in conjunction with vitamin K, stimulates the transformation of fracture
site stem cells to bone building osteoblasts.17
Overall, vitamin D is central to fracture healing
and vitamin D status has been shown to be an independent predicator of functional recovery
after hip fracture.18
VITAMIN K is an essential part of the biochemical processes that bind calcium to bone and it is
required for proper formation of the osteocalcin bone protein. In addition, vitamin K helps
conserve calcium by reducing the loss of calcium in the urine.19
Since 1960 it has been noted that vitamin K has a beneficial effect on fracture healing and has a real effect on all collagen
tissues, especially bone tissue.20
Researchers have found that vitamin K is sequestered to the
site of fracture resulting in markedly depressed circulating levels of vitamin K in fracture
patients. The time taken for the vitamin K blood level to return to normal appears to be
influenced by the severity of the fracture.21
VITAMIN B6 is one of the B vitamins that has been linked to fracture healing. Animals deficient in
this vitamin fracture more frequently and experience reduced fracture healing. It appears that
vitamin B6 modulates the effects of vitamin K on bone through complex biochemical
pathways.22
Anti-inflammatory nutrients help reduce pain. Where there is pain, there is inflammation — a product
of the body’s action to tear down, recycle, and repair damaged tissues. For fracture healing, it is ideal
to use nutrients that are both anti‐inflammatory and nourishing to new bone growth. Useful anti‐
inflammatory nutrients include vitamin C, quercitin and other flavonoids, omega‐3 fatty acids, and
proteolytic enzymes such as bromalain and trypsin.
Multi-nutrient therapy is the likely best approach
Bone is complex tissue that requires many nutrients. Given this fact, supplementation with a wide
range of key bone nutrients is likely to provide more effective fracture healing than individual nutrient
supplementation. At the Center for Better Bones, we always recommend therapeutic doses of all the
20 key bone‐building nutrients for optimum fracture healing. While no scientist has yet conducted a
clinical trial using all 20 key nutrients for fracture healing, several studies have found multi‐nutrient
therapy to reduce complication and accelerate fracture healing. A 2006 Swedish hip fracture study
found fracture patients given complex multi‐nutrient supplementation containing protein,
carbohydrates, amino acids, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, trace minerals, and fat
soluble vitamins, had only a 15% rate of complications as compared to a 70% complications rate
among the non‐supplemented group.23
Also impressive is a Swedish meta‐analysis of 17 such clinical
hip fracture trials which reported that oral multi‐nutrient supplementation (including nutrients such as
carbohydrates, protein, arginine, zinc, and antioxidants) reduced deaths and complications from hip
fracture by nearly 50%.24
Another innovative placebo controlled, multi‐nutrient study from India administered vitamin C, lysine,
proline, and vitamin B6 to tibial fracture patients. In those receiving multi‐nutrient therapy, fracture
healing time was reduced by approximately two weeks, with a larger percentage healing in 10 weeks
(33%) as compared to the 11% in the placebo group.25
An Alkaline for Life™ eating program stimulates bone repair [you're better off paleo with bone broth/chicken soup!]
The Alkaline for Life™ eating program provides a diet rich in minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients
obtained from vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. This life‐supporting eating pattern has been shown
to create a health‐promoting internal biochemical environment which, among other things, conserves
bone building minerals and proteins. Such a base‐forming eating program also has been shown to
increase growth hormones and growth factors such as IGF insulin‐like growth factor.26
These growth hormones are among the most important biochemical forces encouraging fracture repair and new
bone formation.27
Herbal fracture healing aids
Throughout history, and even today in much of the world, traditional herbal medicine has been the
mainstay of medical practice. This long tradition of herbal wisdom has employed various herbs to
speed fracture healing. Among these is cultivated (European) comfrey (Symphytum uplandics x.), which
should not be confused with a potentially toxic wild variety (Symphytum officinale), nor with a native
herb that is also called “wild comfrey” (Cynoglossum virginianum) that is native to the US. Herbalist
Susun Weed recommends cultivated comfrey be used in the form of a strong tea (infusion) as an aid in
fracture healing. Details of her recommendation are available at
www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/June08/wisewoman.htm). She also reports great success applying
a hot, fresh burdock leaf poultice to reduce the swelling induced by a fracture.28
Arnica (Arnica montana) is reportedly another helpful herb, as detailed by herbal researcher Alma Hutchens, but it
must be used with caution as large amounts are poisonous. She reports that five drops or fewer of
Arnica tincture given every 3 to 4 hours after the initial trauma is said to help recovery from the trauma
of fracture.29
Horsetailgrass is an herb high in silicon, which can be boiled and made into a tea valuable
in the early stages of fracture healing.30
In all cases, however, herbal medicine should be used under the guidance of a qualified herbalist.
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be an effective way to reduce the swelling, pain, and soreness
of fracture. Chinese medicine can also accelerate healing when used under the guidance of an
experienced practitioner.31
Finally, the traditional Ayurvedic medicine of India is now becoming known
in the West and drawing the attention of scientists and pharmaceutical companies alike. The Indian
herb Cissus quadrangularis in particular has been studied for its fracture‐healing benefits.
As we look around the world, we would indeed expect to find traditional herbal approaches to fracture
healing and those with access to an expert herbalist can benefit from this traditional wisdom.
Exercise and fracture healing
Exercise is unlikely to pop into your mind as an important way to accelerate fracture healing — yet it is.
In general, bone tissue responds to patterns of loading by increasing matrix synthesis, altering
composition, organization, and mechanical properties. Evidence indicates that the same holds true for
bone under repair. Further, fracture healing requires good circulation and an adequate flow of
nutrient‐replenishing blood to the fracture site — both of which are enhanced by exercise. To avoid
stress on the broken bone, joint loading, range of motion, and specific tendon‐gliding exercises are
employed to accelerate healing and assure return of function post fracture.32
For example, in the case of a broken forearm, exercises would involve movements of the fingers and hand, as well as the elbow
and shoulder joints.
Energy medicine for fracture healing
Energy medicine is described in a recent medical journal as, “...a field of complementary therapy based
on the interactions of the human energy field with other energy fields (human or other).”
33
Interestingly enough, pulsing electromagnetic field therapy is a form of energy medicine that has been
used for many years by conventional doctors to heal fractures that have not healed on their own
(known as non‐union fractures). Approximately 5 – 10% of bone fractures fail to heal normally and
result in delayed healing or non‐union. In these situations, the use of electromagnetic bone stimulating
devices has proven to speed healing. For a review of the literature see:
www.ifess.org/Services/Consumer_Ed/References/bone_healing_references.htm
Homeopathy, reiki, qi gong, polarity therapy, healing touch, acupuncture, and massage are all non‐
conventional energy healing modalities with applications for fracture healing. Common over‐the‐
counter homeopathic remedies include arnica as an anti‐trauma remedy for immediately after the
fracture (not to be used if the person is unconscious), symphytum (comfrey) for pain relief and the
joining of set bones, and Calcarea phosphorica for fractures that are difficult to heal. Low‐potency
homeopathic remedies (6x, 6c to 30x, 30c) are often used for self‐help, as detailed in Homeopathic
Self‐Care by Robert Ullman and Judyth Reichenberg‐Ullman (Prima Publishing, 1997) and at
www.peacehealth.org/kbase/cam/hn‐2201007. Homeopathy is a powerful medicine and when
possible the best policy is to seek the advice of a professional homeopath.
Pain relievers and fracture healing
Cells damaged from the trauma of fracture release large amounts of inflammatory prostaglandins at
the site of fracture. The ensuing inflammation causes pain and the natural tendency is to want to block
this painful reaction. In this case, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (COX‐1 and COX‐2 inhibitors)
might be the medication we reach for to relieve the pain. The use of these COX‐1 and COX‐2 inhibitors,
however, can delay fracture healing. As it turns out, prostaglandin‐induced inflammation is an essential
component of the fracture healing process, and cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX‐1 and COX‐2) play
important roles in fracture repair. These inflammatory prostaglandins are a natural and essential part
of initial tissue repair and the initial inflammatory immune response is crucial to fracture healing.
Because of this, the use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory pain killers (NSAIDs) is not recommended
for fracture pain relief. Among the NSAID COX‐1 and COX‐2 inhibitor drugs to be avoided are aspirin,
ibuprofen, indomethacin, etodolac (Lodine), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), and naproxen
(Anaprox, Naprosyn).34
Acceptable alternatives to help reduce the pain of fracture include acetaminophen (as in Tylenol). In
severe cases, narcotics such as codeine are given along with the acetaminophen. There are also natural
pain‐relief alternatives, including several nutrients that have been documented to help reduce the pain
of inflammation of fracture while also enhancing the healing process. For example, in a study of 328
wrist fracture patients, modest 500 mg/day supplementation with vitamin C reduced by more than 4‐
fold the incidence of post‐fracture complex regional pain syndrome.
35
In clinical use at the Center for Better Bones, we have found that the well‐studied flavonoid, quercitin, used in doses of 2–3 g per day,
has a synergistic effect with vitamin C, amplifying the pain‐relief benefits. These nutrients, as well as
omega‐3 fatty acids, reduce inflammation without inhibiting the COX‐1 and COX‐2 enzymes. In
addition, European research has shown the value of proteolitic enzymes (protein digesting enzymes)
such as bromelain and trypsin for reducing inflammation, edema, and pain in fracture patients.
36
One such European proteolytic enzyme combination available in the US is the Wobenzym formula.
Smoking
Numerous studies document that smoking delays the healing process and increases morbidity
associated with fracture. For example, the fractured tibias of patients who smoked took 62% longer to
heal than non‐smokers.37
Further, postoperative complications such as delayed healing, infection, and
fracture non‐healing (non‐union) are much more common among smokers.38
A further example from a study at Johns Hopkins University found that:
Current and previous smokers were less likely to achieve union than non‐smokers.
Current smokers were more than twice as likely to develop an infection.
Previous smokers were 2.8 times more likely to develop osteomyelitis (bone infection).
39
Interestingly enough, the impact of smoking appears to be a non‐nicotine effect involving delays in the
cartilage‐forming phase of fracture healing.40
All in all, the clear recommendation is that those who
fracture cease smoking for the full rehabilitation period.41
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol in excess can be directly toxic to bone and alcohol abuse is associated with increases in both
the incidence of fractures and complications of fracture healing, including infection. In a Danish ankle
fracture study, for example, alcohol abusers had significantly more early complications, especially
infections, from reparative ankle surgery.42
It is highly advisable to eliminate any excessive alcohol intake during fracture healing.
Conclusion
Bone is a complex, living tissue which constantly changes and adapts itself to the demands put upon it.
A myriad of nutrients, hormones, and other biochemical factors are essential to bone formation and
maintenance, so an equal number of factors figure in the bone repair process. While a fracture can be
frightening and leave us questioning the strength of our skeleton, such a mishap might well be seen as
a “window of opportunity” to make nutritional and lifestyle changes that will strengthen the entire
skeleton and improve overall health.
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