Nutrition and Wound Healing

new study shows that taking a supplement containing several antioxidants speeds the rate of wound healing by 17%. This could shave days off the healing process from a facelift and other plastic surgery procedures. The combination of ingredients consisted of Vitamin C, Enzymes, Rutin, Bromelain, and Grape Seed Extract. The study appears in the July issue of the Journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Other nutrients have been studied for their ability to boost the healing process, and decrease complications and the risk of infection associated with surgery. They include Fish Oil Omega-3 Fatty Acids, L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, Beta-Carotene, Zinc, other essential vitamins and minerals, and Collagen.

Eggs and Cholesterol

Although Eggs do raise LDL cholesterol, they may only raise portions of LDL that do not strongly contribute to heart disease. LDL-Cholesterol is known as bad cholesterol because it goes rancid easily and then damages the lining of blood vessels contributing to cardiovascular disease. Although eggs raise LDL, they only slightly increase the fractions of LDL that are the most dangerous.

LDL-cholesterol is broken down into 7 fractions or types. The fractions LDL-3 through LDL-7 are smaller and denser and are thought to be more of a contributing factor to cardiovascular disease than LDL-1 and LDL-2. LDL-1 and LDL-2 are larger, less dense, and seem to be safer. Eggs tend to raise LDL-1 and LDL-2 and have less of an impact on LDL-3 through LDL-7. This may be why some studies show that eating eggs may not contribute to heart disease. The study appears in the June issue of Metabolism. The study was partially supported by the American Egg Board and the University of Connecticut Research Foundation.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

There is even some evidence that eggs, like shrimp, increase HDL-cholesterol, the protective cholesterol, while also increasing LDL, and this balanced increase may be an additional mechanism of not contributing to heart disease.