Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), including its buffered forms such as mixed ascorbates, has a scientific basis for use in supporting bone healing, though the strength of evidence is modest. Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, a critical component of bone matrix. Deficiency in vitamin C (as seen in scurvy) leads to defective collagen formation and impaired bone healing, clearly establishing its necessity for normal bone repair. Animal studies and limited human observational data suggest that adequate vitamin C status may promote bone healing and reduce the risk of complications such as delayed union or nonunion of fractures. Some studies have demonstrated that supplementation can enhance callus formation and improve bone strength in animal fracture models. In humans, a few small clinical trials and observational studies have suggested that vitamin C supplementation may modestly accelerate fracture healing or reduce oxidative stress after bone injury, but results are inconsistent and robust, large-scale randomized controlled trials are lacking. The use of vitamin C in fracture healing is not rooted in traditional medicine, but rather in its recognized physiological role in collagen synthesis and antioxidant defense. While vitamin C deficiency clearly impairs bone healing, supplementation beyond recommended dietary allowances in individuals with normal nutritional status has not been conclusively shown to confer additional benefit. Therefore, current scientific evidence supports the correction of deficiency and adequate intake of vitamin C during fracture healing, but does not strongly support high-dose supplementation for enhanced bone repair.

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