Lipids are fats that are essential to healthy skin synthesis. In the upper most layer of the skin known as the epidermal stratum corneum, the principle lipids include long-chain fatty acids such as omega-3s. The September 2002 issue of "Contact Dermatitis" reports that skin cells are constantly renewed, and any interference with the renewal process can impede wound healing. The close association of omega-3s with skin renewal prompted scientific investigations into disclosing the nature of the relationship.
Building Blocks
According to researchers reporting in the March 2010 issue of the "Journal of Dental Research," omega-3 lipids are supplemented as nutritional support to surgical and critically ill patients. They provide essential building blocks for wound healing and tissue repair. Successful wound healing is achieved through four phases that must occur in the proper sequence and time frame. The sequences are: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. The role of omega-3s in promoting wound repair is prominent during remodeling because they provide the basic building materials for skin synthesis.
Immune Function
The relationship between nutrition and wound healing has been recognized for centuries, and proper fat intake is necessary. Noting this link, researchers reporting in the June 2006 issue of "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery," think the true benefit of omega-3 fatty acids lies in their ability to improve the immune function of surgical patients. Upon review of the relevant literature, they concluded that the ability of omega-3s to reduce complications from infections both hastens wound healing and improves surgical survival rates
Lab Experiments
The October 2008 issue of "Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine" includes a report published by researchers who prepared a "solid emulsion gel" made of omega-3 fatty acids to test its ability to affect tissue repair processes in human skin cells. They conducted a number of experiments and found that the omega-3s promoted wound repair by affecting cell metabolism and upregulating the expression of beneficial genes. The researchers concluded that topical administration of omega-3 fatty acids can stimulate tissue repair in complex wounds.
Problems
Researchers reporting in the May 2008 issue of "Wound Repair and Regeneration" threw up a red flag regarding the role of omega-3s in wound repair. The researchers compared the healing of blister wounds on the arms of people taking fish oil supplements to those of people taking a placebo. While the wounds healed in about the same amount of time, levels of proteins known to initiate and sustain inflammation were higher in the blister fluid of the fish oil group. The affect was pronounced enough that the researchers recommended that patients tell their doctors if they're taking fish oil.
References
- "Contact Dermatitis"; Efficacy of Stratum Corneum Lipid Supplementation on Human Skin; Louisa Coderch et al.; September 2002
- "Journal of Dental Research"; Factors Affecting Wound Healing; Shujuan Guo and Luisa DiPietro; March 2010
- "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"; Nutrition and Wound Healing; Mark Arnold and Adrian Barbul; June 2006
- "Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine"; Solid Emulsion Gel as a Vehicle for Delivery of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Implications for Tissue Repair, Dermal Angiogenesis and Wound Healing; Kirill Shingel et al.; October 2008
- "Wound Repair and Regeneration"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids Effect on Wound Healing"; Jody McDaniel et al.; May 2008
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