Specific nutritional factors in wound healing.

Provision of a nutritionally complete diet provides the optimum environment for recovery and healing. Clinical research and experience suggest that several nutritional factors may be associated with impaired wound healing, including vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, protein, and individual amino acids. Studies have shown that supplementing specific nutrients to patients who are not clinically deficient has little effect on pressure ulcer healing. Inexpensive, nontoxic nutritional supplements may not harm the patient, however, some nutritional supplements are expensive or potentially toxic. Before routine use of these nutrients can be justified, further research is required.