Nourishing wounds with essential amino acids accelerates healing in middle-aged rats

The principal therapy for cutaneous wounds is presently based on protecting the dermis from environmental assault, while simultaneously maintaining a humid environment. In order to improve wound healing, we explored the possibility of using a protective gel that also provides nutrients for wound repair cells. Providing essential amino acids from outside the wound is an unusual and yet potentially efficient support for the healing process. In skin wound repair of middle-aged rats, we found that nourishing wounds with essential amino acids shortened repair time, by reducing inflammation and influencing a full set of regulators of collagen-1 deposition and removal, such as transforming growth factor beta, its receptors and matrix metalloproteinases. Nourishing wounds with essential amino acids optimizes the quality and organization of collagen-1 deposition, thus accelerating the wound healing process compared with placebo. Topical application of essential amino acids appears to be a promising strategy in reducing healing time and potentially improving the quality of repairs.