Nutrition and wound healing: an overview

Nutrients play a vital role in wound healing, helping to facilitate wound healing, maintain immune competence and decrease risk of infection. The basis of a well-balanced nutrition intake consists of carbohydrate and glucose, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Knowing what nutrients are necessary for a patient's recovery is not enough; knowing how to implement nutritional therapy to positively influence the outcome of the patient is also important for the caregiver. Methods of nutritional support include the oral diet, oral supplements, tube feeding and parenteral feeding. Assessing a patient's nutritional needs and implementing a realistic plan of care to provide these needs is crucial for wound healing.