The misconception of various diets during treatment or Surgery by RD. Clinical Dietician Nutritionist in Mumbai Geetanjali Mengi
Wound healing is a normal biological process of the body achieved through several molecular events, like coagulation, inflammation, migration-proliferation, and remodelling.
1. Energy, protein along with vitamin K and zinc is essential for collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, nitrogen retention, and anabolism.
2.Amino acids Proline and lysine are incorporated into collagen.
3. Methionine is required for fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. Methionine is a precursor of cysteine which is a cofactor for enzyme systems in collagen synthesis and contributes to proper peptide chain alignment in the procollagen helix. Nutrients that contribute wound healing during the inflammatory phase and collagen synthesis are, namely arginine and glutamine. These nutrients possess metabolic, enzymatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties required for wound healing.
4. Vitamin A and vitamin-E supplementation have been shown to be beneficial in animal models.
5. The sequence of cellular and molecular events that occur after injury depends on the type, size, and depth of wounds.
6. Ageing and certain clinical conditions like diabetes, venous or arterial insufficiency, infection, presence of foreign objects, and local pressure can delay the process.
7. Micronutrient zinc, vitamin C deficiencies may impair the wound healing process.
Food Restrictions
Most patients have a misperception about post-surgery food intake which they believe makes it harder for the body to heal.
Certain foods like Rice, Brinjal, Potato, Fish, chicken, milk, and milk products should not be consumed after surgery as these foods will delay wound healing and cause infection. However, A pub-med search on such beliefs, couldn’t result in any studies either to support or contradict the beliefs.
Curcumin, the most active component of rhizome of Curcuma longa L. (common name: turmeric), has been postulated by many studies of its properties, like antioxidant, radical scavenger, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, which can play a crucial role in the wound healing process.
Honey has been used since ancient times. There are few studies which have found honey to be beneficial in acute and chronic wounds. There are reports of traditional use of honey to treat burns, infected and non-healing wounds and ulcers, boils, pilonidal sinus, venous and diabetic foot ulcers.
Recommendation
There is no strong evidence for any food that delay wound healing. Each stage of the wound-healing requires different nutrients and studies suggest a well-balanced nutritious diet will promote wound healing, while supplements may be needed in malnourished individuals.