Scientific Reports, 2017 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00700-z · Published: March 8, 2017
This study investigates the impact of a high-glucose diet on tendon healing in rats after an Achilles tenotomy. Rats were fed either a high-glucose or control diet for 2 or 4 weeks following surgery to assess the effects on tendon repair. The research found that a high-glucose diet led to increased tendon repair tissue thickness and stiffness after 2 weeks. Gait pattern was also altered, and cell proliferation was higher, along with increased expression of chondrogenic marker genes. The study suggests that while a high-glucose diet may initially promote cell proliferation and tissue deposition, it could also increase the risk of chondroid degeneration in injured tendons, potentially hindering long-term tendon quality.
The study highlights the importance of nutritional factors, specifically glucose intake, in tendon healing processes. It suggests that dietary interventions could impact tendon repair outcomes.
The findings indicate that while glucose may initially promote tendon repair, excessive glucose intake could lead to chondrogenic degeneration, potentially compromising long-term tendon health.
The study provides insights into the effects of prolotherapy, a treatment involving dextrose injections for tendon and ligament ailments, by demonstrating the impact of glucose on tendon healing at a cellular and molecular level.