Nutritional support for the patient with wounds: food intake and supplementation

Abstract

The daily intake of food is an activity that is associated with life and the maintenance thereof. Unfortunately, there is more to food than meets the eye and what is eaten is not necessarily exactly what the body needs. When confronted with skin breakdown and wounds, evidence is mounting to support the notion that intake of food and additional nutritional supplementation in these individuals are paramount in facilitating the wound healing process. It is a well known fact that wounds heal the quickest in well-nourished patients. Supplementation can play a vital role as discussed later in this article, but it is important that basic nutrition should be in place.