Nutritional status is a critical determinant of wound healing, recognized for over a century as essential to the recovery process. Proper nutrition is vital for the three stages of wound healing: the inflammatory, proliferative, and maturation (remodeling) phases. The inflammatory stage, lasting several days, is followed by the proliferative phase, which can extend over weeks, characterized by granulation tissue formation, reepithelialization, and neovascularization. The maturation phase begins around the third week and can continue for up to 12 months, during which the wound achieves its maximum strength.
Poor nutrition can delay each stage of wound healing, leading to the development of non-healing wounds. Certain types of wounds increase the body’s nutritional demands, necessitating a higher intake of essential nutrients for optimal healing. Protein is the most crucial nutrient during wound healing, playing a key role in building, maintaining, and repairing tissues, facilitating biochemical reactions, and enhancing the immune response. During periods of metabolic stress or post-surgical recovery, the body requires additional protein, calories, and nutrients.
Wound healing is influenced by both local and systemic factors. Local factors relate to the wound’s characteristics, such as oxygenation and infection, while systemic factors encompass overall health conditions, including age, gender, stress levels, disease, and nutrition. Protein inadequacy can impair capillary formation, fibroblast proliferation, proteoglycan and collagen synthesis, and the wound remodeling process. It may also weaken the immune system, reducing leukocyte phagocytosis and decreasing resistance to infection.