effects of omega-3 fatty acid diet enrichment on wound healing

• Published in: Veterinary dermatology Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 283 - 290
• Main Authors: Scardino, M.S, Swaim, S.F, Sartin, E.A, Hoffman, C.E, Oglivie, G.K, Hanson, R.A, Coolman, S.L, Davenport, D.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.12.1999
• Subjects: diet; dietary supplements; dogs; healing; inflammation; omega-3 fatty acids; polyunsaturated fatty acids; wound healing; wounds and injuries
• ISSN: 0959-4493; 1365-3164
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3164.1999.00148.x

Omega‐3 fatty acids were evaluated to determine how their anti‐inflammatory properties affect wound healing. Twelve Beagle dogs were divided into two groups of six. Group I was fed an n‐3 fatty acid enriched diet (n‐3 FAED) with an n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acid ratio of 0.3, and group II was fed a control diet (CD) with a ratio of 7.7. Open and sutured cutaneous wounds were created on the trunk of the dog, and evaluated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, tensiometry, planimetry, histopathology, and eicosanoid content. At 5 days, the n‐3 FAED‐fed dogs had significantly less epithelialization of the open wounds (P = 0.0343) and significantly less oedema in sutured wounds (P = 0.015). There were also tendencies of less tissue perfusion (P = 0.086), lower PGE2 levels (P = 0.0756) and negative wound contraction in open wounds at 5 days. The n‐3 FAED used in this study did not appear to have any outstanding long‐term negative effect on wound healing.