Abstract
The importance of wound healing usually becomes an issue for clinicians when something goes awry and a patient develops a slow or nonhealing wound. Although nutrition often becomes the focus of intervention to promote wound healing, it must be integrated into a comprehensive approach of care that emphasizes wound site care with reduction of potential impediments to wound healing such as dehydration, infection, anti-inflammatory medications, and hyperglycemia. More research is needed to determine what nutrient or combination of nutrients is beneficial, when supplementation is indicated, how much of each nutrient should be provided, which patients should receive supplementation, and how long supplementation should be provided. There are no recent evidence-based guidelines to follow when supplementing nutrients to promote wound healing and there are no evidence-based guidelines addressing the issues of wound management in critically injured patients. Consistent nutrition to provide a balance of macronutrients and micronutrients appears to be optimal to promote healing, prevent weight loss, and improve the overall health status of patients.