Methylglyoxal inhibit mineralization and impair fracture healing.

Diabetic patients have impaired fracture healing, the cause of which is not yet understood. The function of osteoblasts, which are responsible for bone formation, is important in the process of fracture healing. It has been reported that the concentration of methylglyoxal increases in the blood of diabetic patients and diabetic model mice, but the relationship between fracture healing and methylglyoxal is unknown. We investigated whether the extracellular matrix production capacity of osteoblasts is altered when they are treated with low concentrations of methylglyoxal. We aimed to elucidate that the extracellular matrix production capacity of osteoblasts is altered when they are treated with low levels of methylglyoxal without causing cell death.