by
Stepy —
March 13, 2013
- Pressure ulcers or more commonly known as bedsores occur very often in patients who are critically ill and bed-ridden.
- These sores occur because of the constant pressure on the skin and tissue underneath when in bed or a wheelchair for long periods of time. The cause of pressure ulcers is pressure applied to soft tissue so that blood flow to the soft tissue is completely or partially obstructed.
- Pressure ulcers need to be caught and treated early because they are prone to infection and very painful.
- Professor Pierre Singer, Ph.D. along with a team conducted a clinical trial to find if fish oil could help heal bedsores quicker.
- The study:
- The team conducted a study with 40 randomized critically ill patients.
- Half the patients were given the standard hospital diet, while the other half had 8 grams of fish oil added to their daily diet.
- The trial came up with the following results:
- The fish oil strengthened the immune system and reduced the inflammation throughout the entire body.
- Using the standard Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing, the team observed a 20-25 percent drop in pain and discomfort from bedsores.
- Professor Singer stated, “We saw a modification in the expression of a group of molecules associated with directing leukocytes, or white blood cells, in the direction of the wound, which could explain the improved healing.”
- The researchers also found that the fish oil significantly decreased C-reactive protein in the blood, which is linked to inflammation, rheumatic diseases, tissue injury, necrosis, and more.
- For the entire article.
- REFERENCES:
- Theilla M, Schwartz B, Cohen J, Shapiro H, Anbar R, Singer P. Impact of a nutritional formula enriched in fish oil and micronutrients on pressure ulcers in critical care patients. Am J Crit Care. 2012 Jul;21(4):e102-9. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2012187.
- Theilla M, Schwartz B, Zimra Y, Shapiro H, Anbar R, Rabizadeh E, Cohen J, Singer P. Enteral n-3 fatty acids and micronutrients enhance percentage of positive neutrophil and lymphocyte adhesion molecules: a potential mediator of pressure ulcer healing in critically ill patients. Br J Nutr. 2012 Apr;107(7):1056-61. Epub 2011 Nov 1.
- Theilla M, Singer P, Cohen J, Dekeyser F. A diet enriched in eicosapentanoic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and antioxidants in the prevention of new pressure ulcer formation in critically ill patients with acute lung injury: A randomized, prospective, controlled study. Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;26(6):752-7. Epub 2007 Oct 22.
