When people get older, the wound healing process seems to take longer, muscles seem to be losing, and wrinkles seem to be more obvious. Anything we can do to heal wounds better and main the youthful suppleness of muscle and skin?

 

    A study from Williams et al. may give us some answers. They recruited thirty-five healthy, nonsmoking human volunteers 70 years or older to underwent a wound-healing model testing by using subcutaneous implantation of two small, sterile polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubes into the deltoid region under strict aseptic techniques. The tubes were 1 mm in diameter and 6 cm in length with a pore size of 90 to 120 mcm to allow optimal ingrowth of fibroblasts and the deposition of matrix.

 

    The study participants were randomized into two study groups. Eighteen volunteers (mean age 75.4 years; 2 men, 16 women) were randomized to receive daily supplementation of 14 g arginine, 3 g β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB), and 14 g glutamine (total nitrogen 3.59 g) in two divided doses each day. The control group (n=17; mean age 75.3 years; 6 men, 11 women) received an isonitrogenous, isocaloric supplementation of nonessential amino acids. Catheters were removed at 7 and 14 days postimplantation and analyzed for hydroxyproline (OHP, nmol/cm catheter, an index of collagen accumulation) and -amino nitrogen (-AN, mmol/cm, an index of total protein deposition).

 

    This double-blind, randomized study demonstrated that healthy elderly volunteers who had 2-weeks of supplementation of a specialized amino acid mixture containing arginine, HMB, and glutamine accumulated 67% more collagen without an effect on total protein accumulation, as assessed by the OHP content, in an experimental wound model.

 

    Arginine and glutamine are amino acids, which help cells to produce the building blocks needed for new tissue. HMB is a naturally occurring metabolite of amino acid leucine. These amino acids and metabolites together can help to build new tissue and preserve and maintain tissue.

 

    Collagen synthesis is not only important for wound healing but also essential for muscle and skin renewal. Sufficient protein intake is needed to have the necessary building blocks of amino acids for collagen to be made. Some other nutritional factors are also important for collagen synthesis, such as vitamin C (see previous blog More Vitamin C for Healthy Skin).

 

    This research finding showed us that the oral intake of a mixture of arginine, HMB, and glutamine could be a safe and effective nutritional means for improving wound repair. What we may get out of this paper would be more than just wound healing, since tissues such as muscle and skin are relying on collagen production as well. Instead of focusing on individual amino acids, eating a protein-rich diet can supply abundant amino acids for collagen production, can help with faster wound healing, more muscle, and less wrinkle showing.

 

Reference:

 

Williams, J.Z.; Abumrad, N.; Barbul, A. Effect of a specialized amino acid mixture on human collagen deposition. Ann. Surg. 2002, 236, 369–375.