Effect of Dietary Amino Acids L-Arginine and Lysine on Implant Osseointegration

Low protein diets have been linked to decreased bone strength in humans. Arginine and lysine can help improve the healing process and stimulate growth factors.

To evaluate if dietary arginine and lysine combination aids in reducing the time frame for osseo-integration process and bone formation in animal models.

Controls (Group I) and Experimental (Group II) consisted of twelve New Zealand rabbits. Animals in the experimental group were fed a conventional pellet food, water, and the amino acids L-Lysine and L-Arginine (Biovea, USA), whereas those in the control group were offered a standard diet. In both groups of animals, titanium implants measuring 2.5mm* 6mm were implanted in each tibial osteotomy. At the end of two weeks, four weeks, and eight weeks, the animals were euthanized. The tibial bone was removed and preserved in 1% formalin. The samples were analysed histologically for presence or absence of Necrosis, presence or absence of clot formation, Vascularization, Fibroblast, Osteoblasts and Osteoid Bone growth.

Histological outcomes on vascularization, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, osteoid bone growth inferred no significant variation between the control and experimental groups after 8 weeks (P>.05).

Vascularity, clot organisation, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and osteoid bone production in the protein fed experimental group animals were better in initial stages of healing when compared to control groups.