Supplemental Protein and a Multi-Nutrient Beverage Speed Wound Healing Following Acute Sleep Restriction in Healthy Adults
Tracey J Smith, The Journal of Nutrition, 14 March 2022
Background
Physiological and psychological stress slow healing from experimental wounds by impairing immune function.
Objective
To determine whether supplemental protein and multi-nutrient supplementation improve wound healing markers following acute stress induced by acute sleep restriction.
Methods
In this single-blind, cross-over study of generally healthy young adults (18 males/2 females; 19.7±2.30 years [mean±SD]), experimental wounds were created by removing the top layer of forearm blisters induced via suction after 48-h of 72-h sleep restriction (2-h nightly sleep), a protocol previously shown to delay wound healing. Skin barrier restoration (measured by trans-epidermal water loss, TEWL) assessed wound healing up to 10 days post-blistering, and local immune responses were evaluated by serial measurement of cytokine concentrations in fluid collected at wound sites for 48-h post-blistering. Participants consumed controlled, isocaloric diets with either 0.900 g·kg−1·d−1 protein plus placebo (PLA) or 1.50 g·kg−1·d−1 protein plus multi-nutrient beverage (NUT; L-arginine: 20.0 g·d−1, L-glutamine: 30.0 g·d−1, omega-3 fatty acids: 1.00 g·d−1, zinc sulfate: 24.0 mg·d−1, cholecalciferol: 800 IU·d−1 and vitamin C: 400 mg·d−1) during sleep restriction and for 4 days afterwards.
Results
Skin barrier restoration (primary outcome) was shorter for NUT [(median, interquartile range) (3.98, 1.17 days)] compared to PLA (5.25, 1.05 days) (P = 0.001). Cytokines from wound fluid (secondary outcome) increased over time (main effect of time P≤0.001), except IL-13 (P = 0.07); however, no effects of treatment were observed.
Conclusions
Supplemental nutrition may promote wound healing following sleep restriction in healthy adults including military personnel, the latter of which also have a high incidence of wounds and infection.
