Dr. Chris LeSarQ: I am scheduled for surgery soon and heard supplements may help my wounds heal quicker. Is this true?
A: As wounds heal, good nutrition is necessary. During the healing process, the body needs increased amounts of protein, vitamins A and C, and specific minerals. In fact, recent studies have shown supplements with antioxidant nutrients can increase a wound's healing time by 20 percent.
In 2004, scientists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Advanced Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory released a study on nutritional supplements' effects on a wound. They conducted a clinical trial involving two groups of 13 healthy subjects who had open wounds after biopsies. One group took an oral supplement containing vitamin C, bromelain, rutin and grape seed extract for six weeks, while the other took a placebo. The results showed that those who took the supplements healed about three days faster than those who did not, supporting the notion that oral vitamins may help you more effectively recover from wounds. A clinician should be consulted before taking any supplements.
- Dr. Chris LeSar, Vascular Institute of Chattanooga; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society