Sweet almonds to help heal femur and tibia shaft fractures
Assessing Bone Fracture Healing Effect of Prunus Dulcis (Almonds) - A Randomized Controlled Trial
This test will see if eating sweet almonds helps adults aged 18–55 with trauma-related femur or tibia shaft fractures heal their bones faster and safely.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 136 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Karachi) |
| Trial ID | NCT07153302 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults (18–55) with trauma-associated femur or tibia shaft fractures presenting to Aga Khan University Hospital will receive Prunus dulcis (sweet almonds) as an intervention and be followed during their healing period. Fracture repair will be monitored using radiographic measures such as callus formation, callus bridging, and callus index, together with clinical assessments and safety monitoring. Patients already on bone-strengthening drugs, with severe cardiovascular/hepatic/renal disease, or with known almond allergy are excluded. The trial seeks to determine whether almonds offer a feasible, low-cost adjunct to support bone healing with acceptable safety.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are consenting adults 18–55 with trauma-related femur or tibia shaft fractures who are not taking bone-strengthening medications and have no severe organ disease or almond allergy.
Not a fit: Patients who require prescription bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis or urgent indications, those with severe cardiovascular/hepatic/renal disease, or those with almond allergy are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, almonds could offer an affordable, widely available supplement to support bone healing with fewer side effects than some prescription bone-strengthening drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some small human studies suggest almonds or almond extracts can improve bone health and accelerate fracture healing, but robust clinical evidence in people with shaft fractures is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients of 18 to 55 years of age of any gender. 2. Agree and able to voluntary participate. 3. Patients with trauma associated femur fracture and tibia shaft fracture arriving at hospital for treatment. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Mentally retarded or patients with severe psychiatric illness. 2. Patients are already on bone-strengthening drugs (bisphosphonates, vitamin D, strontium ranelate, teriparatide, etc.). 3. Patients who require bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis or for any urgent need. 4. Severe cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal disease. 5. Known allergy or toxicity to Prunus dulcis (almonds) and/or vitamin D supplements.
Where this trial is running
Karachi
- The Aga Khan University — Karachi, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Zehra A Muhammad, M.B.B.S., M.S. Research — Aga Khan University
- Study coordinator: Zehra A Muhammad, M.B.B.S., M.S. Research
- Email: zehra.abdul@aku.edu
- Phone: +92 21 54864746
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.