Deer antlers could hold the secret to helping broken bones heal faster after scientists discovered they contain chemicals that speed up the repair process.
When the chemicals were injected into mice, the fractures healed in a fraction of the time it normally takes.
Deer antlers are capable of complete regeneration, with males growing a new pair each spring, consisting of bone, cartilage, blood vessels, nerves and skin.
The NHS suffers more than 500,000 fractures every year and up to one in ten does not heal properly because the bones do not ‘grow’ together.
Deer antlers may hold the secret to healing broken limbs, scientists believe
Experts from Washington University in the US and Ningbo University, Chinaextracted the polypeptides from antlers and injected them into mice with broken limbs.
Within a week the bones were joined – normally this takes two to three weeks. And after 21 days they were completely healed, compared to the normal five weeks.
In findings published in the Journal of Orthopedic Translation, researchers say deer antlers have been used as a traditional medicine in East Asia “for thousands of years.” ‘Our research shows that they can accelerate fracture healing by promoting new bone formation.’
Previous studies have shown that antler may help fight cancer as it has tumor suppressor genes, while compounds may protect against Parkinson’s disease and alleviate arthritis.
