Healthy tissue formation, efficient wound closure and infection prevention are nutritional priorities in wound healing. Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, plays essential roles in your body's response to wounds. Whether your wound is the result of an injury, surgery or continuous pressure to the area, meeting your daily requirements for vitamin C will help prevent infection in the wound and may improve the strength and appearance of the scar. Because your body does not store extra amounts of this water-soluble vitamin, you must meet your requirements for ascorbic acid in food or supplements each day.
Infection Preventioin
In the early stages of wound healing, your immune system mounts a defense against bacteria and other contaminants. The tissues around the wound become red and swollen as blood flow to the area increases. Ascorbic acid assists in the migration of white blood cells, which protect your body against infection, to the wound. These cells destroy microorganisms and contaminants that interfere with healing. A deficiency of vitamin C could delay your body's natural immune response and increase your risk of infection in the wound bed.
In an article published in the November 2003 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review," Drs. Douglas MacKay and Alan Miller note that a weakened immune system is one of the most common obstacles to healthy wound healing. The authors report that supplementation with additional vitamin C may boost your body's ability to fight infection as your wound resolves. If you have prolonged pain, redness and swelling in a wound, consult your doctor for an evaluation before taking more than the recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, for vitamin C.
Tissue Formation
Ascorbic acid participates in the formation of collagen, proteoglycans and other structural materials that provide the foundation for connective tissues, skin, bones and capillary walls. In the proliferative phase of wound healing, when new tissues form, ascorbic acid facilitates the production of the structural materials that fill the wound bed. A lack of vitamin C in your diet can delay wound healing; increase your risk of infection; and result in weak, fragile scar tissue.
Antioxidant Protection
Your body responds to wounds as a form of physiological stress, according to MacKay and Miller. In periods of stress, demands on your immune system and metabolism increase, and your body requires higher levels of antioxidant compounds, including ascorbic acid, to promote healing. Because of your increased need for antioxidant protection, you may need supplemental vitamin C while your wound is resolving, especially if you have a vitamin C deficiency. Elderly adults, people who are chronically malnourished, people who are chronically ill or those who use alcohol heavily are prone to vitamin C deficiencies and may need supplemental doses as their wounds heal.
Recommendations
The RDA for vitamin C is 75 mg per day for women over 18 and 90 mg per day for men over 18. Citrus fruits and juices, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes and tomato juice, strawberries, broccoli, and many other vegetables and fruits provide vitamin C. To maintain healthy skin and help superficial wounds heal more quickly, meet your requirements for ascorbic acid each day. If you are recovering from a traumatic wound, surgical wound or pressure ulcer, and blood tests show that you have a low level of ascorbic acid, your doctor may recommend larger doses of vitamin C to speed the formation of new tissue and help your body fight infection as you heal.
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