Can individualised nutritional support improve healing in therapy-resistant leg ulcers?

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether an individually designed programme of nutritional support can improve healing in otherwise therapy-resistant venous leg ulcers.

METHOD

Six primary health-care patients, aged between 79 and 93 years, with venous ulcers that had been open for one year or more (range: 1.5-8 years) were recruited into the study. The patients were asked to follow an individualised diet plan which included the use of liquid dietary supplements. Ulcer area, anthropometric and biochemical variables, and energy and nutrient intake were assessed before intervention and then regularly for nine months.

RESULTS

At nine months ulcer healing had occurred in two patients, of whom one had had ulcers on both legs. In a third patient the ulceration on one leg had healed and that on the other leg had almost healed. In a fourth patient, the ulcer area reduced by approximately 90%.

CONCLUSION

The use of nutritional support might have assisted the wound healing in these patients. Although the relationship between nutritional supplementation and wound healing is not well defined, an appropriate nutritional plan is recommended if undernourishment is suspected and leg ulcers are not healing.