Non-enzymatic Glycation Alters the Creep and Viscoplastic Properties of Human Cortical Bone

Collagen is considered to be the principal contributor of postyield properties. Any modification of bone collagen including accumulation of non-enzymatic cross-links should, therefore, be expected to modify the fracture behavior of bone. Previous studies under monotonic loading to fracture have shown that non-enzymatic glycation (NEG) of bone reduces its post-yield properties [1,2], but no information is available on the extent to which NEG may alter the damage behavior of bone. For example, it is unknown if NEG modified bone, containing some amount of damage, undergoes progressive or instantaneous fracture under load. Such information may be critical to the understanding and treatment of age-related fragility fractures because, with aging, bone accumulates NEG products [1] and microdamage [3].