Project
Vitamins and nutrition during wound healing
During the healing of a wound, new tissues and structures are formed, such as blood vessels, extracellular matrix, and epidermal cells. At the same time, cells of the immune system also become activated in the wound, were they play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses and wound healing while also providing immunological defence against invading pathogens. The processes collectively require energy and macro- and micronutrients, are there is therefore a higher metabolic demand during the wound healing process, which increased nutritional requirements. In this project, we investigate the impact of wound healing on micronutrient status.
The cellular and biochemical processed that are part of the wound healing process increase the metabolic demands of the patient. For instance, it is well established that energy and protein are required to form cells and extracellular matrix, and hence adequate dietary protein and energy intake has been incorporated into clinical guidelines. However, much less is known about micronutrients. Based on their biochemical role in cellular processes, it is known that various vitamins play critical roles in the wound healing process. For instance, B-vitamins are required for cell proliferation, and vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis. A deficiency in any of these vitamins could hamper the wound healing process. It is however not known to what extend micronutrient deficiencies are present in patients with chronic wounds, and if this could be improved with personalized dietary advice. In this collaborative project with Gelderse Vallei Hospital, the University Medical Center Utrecht, Dicoon, and the Nutrition and Healthcare Alliance, we investigate micronutrient status in a population of patients with a so-called ‘diabetic foot ulcer’. The results will be used in the future to design personalized interventions for patients with chronic wounds to improve nutritional status and clinical outcomes.
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