Nutrition in Wound Healing
Resource to help raise awareness of the role of nutrition in wound healing
Nutrients - Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are monomers (single unit) or polymers (multiple units) of sugar units known as saccharides (Webb, 2002). This group of nutrients includes non-starch polysaccharide, which is known more commonly as dietary fibre, and is a carbohydrate that is resistant to digestion by the human gut enzymes. However most carbohydrates are broken down by enzymes, which enables them to be absorbed through the small intestine, so that they can be utilised by the body.
Write down the foods that you think contain carbohydrates. Compare what you have written to the foods identified in the 'Foods high in nutrient' section.
Foods high in Carbohydrate
A wide variety of foods provide carbohydrate. These include:
- Dairy products (i.e. milk, cheese, cream).
- Sugary products (i.e. cakes, chocolate, jam, soft drinks, alcohol sweets).
- Cereals.
- Fruit and vegetables.
(Webb, 2002)
Carbohydrates Role in the body
Carbohydrates provide energy for the body. One of the main carbohydrates that is utilised is glucose.
Glucose is necessary in wound healing for a number of reasons. These include:
- Providing energy for leucocytes and macrophages (white blood cells).
- Stimulates fibroblast growth.
- Stimulates the production of collagen (the framework for new tissue).
- Creating adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The majority of ATP is created from glucose in the body's mitochondria in the cells and provides the cells with the chemical energy and heat that they require for functioning.
(Casey, 1998, Crabtree and Garlick, 1993, and McLaren, 1992)
Research by Ek, Larsson, von Schenck, Thorslund, Unosson and Bjurulf (1990) suggests that where energy intake is insufficient, the risk of pressure ulcer development is increased, as is mortality. Any identified deficiency should therefore be addressed promptly.
Signs of Carbohydrate deficiency / overdose
Signs of deficiency:
- Low energy intake is linked to an increased mortality rate.
- Low energy intake is linked to low serum albumin.
- Reduced muscle mass as protein is broken down for energy.
- Increased risk of pressure ulcers.
- Low BMI.
Excessive energy intake may lead to:
- Obesity. This can increase the risk of pressure ulcers as adipose tissue has reduced blood supply.
- Obesity can also increase the risk of wound infection and impair wound healing.
- Increased risk of diabetes and other conditions associated with obesity (i.e. heart disease, hypertension, varicose veins, gallstones, cancers of the ovary, cervix, breast, prostate, colon and rectum, reduced fertility, reduced mobility, increased risk of pregnancy complications).
(Ek, Larsson, von Schenck, Thorslund, Unosson and Bjurulf, 1990, Gray and Cooper, 1999, Kemp, 2001, Ripley, 2006, Webb, 2002)
