Time to wound closure in trauma patients with disorders in wound healing is shortened by supplements containing antioxidant micronutrients and glutamine: a PRCT.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

: We hypothesize that wound closure in trauma patients with disorders in wound healing is accelerated by supplementation of antioxidant micronutrients and glutamine.

METHODS:

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 20 trauma patients with disorders in wound healing were orally supplemented with antioxidant micronutrients (ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, zinc, selenium) and glutamine (verum) or they received isoenergetic amounts of maltodextrine (placebo) for 14 days. Plasma/serum levels of micronutrients, glutamine, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were determined before and after supplementation. In the wound, several parameters of microcirculation were measured. Time from study entry to wound closure was recorded.

RESULTS:

Micronutrients in plasma/serum did not change except for selenium which increased in the verum group (1.1 ± 0.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 μmol/l; P = 0.009). Glutamine decreased only in the placebo group (562 ± 68 vs. 526 ± 55 μmol/l; P = 0.047). The prevalence of hypovitaminoses and the concentration of VEGF-A did not change. Considering microcirculation, only O(2)-saturation decreased in the placebo group (56.7 ± 23.4 vs. 44.0 ± 24.0 [arbitrary units]; P = 0.043). Wound closure occurred more rapidly in the verum than in the placebo group (35 ± 22 vs. 70 ± 35 d; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Time to wound closure can be shortened by oral antioxidant and glutamine containing supplements in trauma patients with disorders in wound healing.

• Authors: Sandra C Blass, Hans Goost, René H Tolba, Birgit Stoffel-Wagner, Koroush Kabir, Christof Burger, Peter Stehle, Sabine Ellinger
• Journal: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (Clin Nutr) Vol. 31 Issue 4 Pg. 469-75 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1532-1983 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22284340 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Micronutrients
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• beta Carotene
• Glutamine
• alpha-Tocopherol
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage)
• Ascorbic Acid (administration & dosage)
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Glutamine (administration & dosage, blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Micronutrients (administration & dosage, blood)
• Middle Aged
• Selenium (administration & dosage)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (blood)
• Wound Healing (drug effects)
• Zinc (administration & dosage)
• alpha-Tocopherol (administration & dosage)
• beta Carotene (administration & dosage)