Nutrients and Wound Healing: Still Searching for the Magic Bullet

Abstract

Clinicians in nearly all practice areas are confronted with the challenges associated with delayed and impaired wound healing. Although nutrition plays a critical role in the healing process, controversy exists regarding the optimal nutrition regimen. This article reviews literature related to nutrition interventions that facilitate wound healing. The limitations of the research that forms the scientific basis of many nutrition recommendations are also examined. The limited availability of rigorously performed clinical studies to develop evidence-based guidelines for nutrition support in wound care emphasizes the need for further research and underscores the importance of individualizing the nutrition care plan for each patient.

Enteral Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers in Adult Critical Care Patients

“…27,32,33 Suboptimal nutrition can alter immune function, collagen synthesis, and tensile strength, all of which are essential elements in the wound-healing cascade. 17 Patients who experience involuntary weight loss and protein calorie malnutrition are also at risk for delayed and impaired wound healing.…”

O impacto da desnutrição no desenvolvimento e na gravidade das úlceras por pressão: uma revisão da literatura

“…A deficiência de zinco pode diminuir as taxas de fibroplastia, de epitelização e de síntese de colágeno, além de prejudicar a resposta imunológica, aumentando a suscetibilidade a infecções recorrentes (DOLEY, 2010;HARRIS, FRASER, 2004;THOMPSON, FUHRMAN, 2005). O selê-nio é um mineral com propriedade antioxidante, muito importante na prevenção e no controle de infecções, pois suprime a ativação de vias pró-inflamatórias, por meio da quelação de moléculas de radicais livres (VOLP et al, 2010).…”

Zinc supplementation in children and adolescents with acute leukemia

“…Hence, it could be effective in prevention of severe mucosal damage resulting from chemotherapy. [28][29][30][31] Some authors attribute a positive role of zinc sulfate when treating the patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. In particular, it was mentioned to be effective in the reduction of severity of oral mucositis.…”