A Nutritional Formula Enriched With Arginine, Zinc, and Antioxidants for the Healing of Pressure Ulcers: A Randomized Trial

In adult malnourished patients with stage II-IV pressure ulcers, use of an energy-dense, protein-rich oral formula enriched with arginine, zinc and antioxidants was associated with a larger reduction in PU area at 8 weeks (adjusted mean difference of 18.7%) than a control formula

A Cochrane systematic review published in 2014 found no clear evidence of a benefit associated with nutritional interventions for either the prevention or treatment of pressure ulcers.

 

A total of 14 of the 23 included RCTs evaluated the effects of nutritional supplements on the healing of existing pressure ulcers: seven examined mixed nutritional supplements, three the effects of proteins, two trials examined zinc, and two studies examined ascorbic acid. There was no clear evidence of an improvement associated with any of the nutritional supplements evaluated in any of these individual studies.