title: Time to wound closure in trauma patients with disorders in wound healing is shortened by supplements containing antioxidant micronutrients and glutamine: a PRCT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : 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.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Nutritional Physiology, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Blass
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goost
authors.forename: René H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tolba
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stoffel-Wagner
authors.forename: Koroush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stehle
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019207:beta Carotene; D005973:Glutamine; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid