There are many stages of healing and repairing for injuries, and Vitamin C is linked to the stages of healing.
-
Wound health
Vitamin C provides as a key structure during the first and second stage of injury. During bleeding and inflammation, nutrients and oxygen are brought to the wound site. During these phases, vitamin C enhances the function of white blood cells to clear damaged cells from the site and provide appropriate levels of inflammation [1].
-
Remodelling
During the final 2 stages of healing, our body begins to create new tissue and scar tissue to repair our wounds. For this process, the body requires collagen and Vitamin C increases collagen production and its quality and strength [2,3].
-
Healing time
The length of healing depends on the wound severity, however poor progression of healing has been linked with poor collagen synthesis. Vitamin C is vital for the synthesis and enzymatic process of creating collagen [4].
WOUND HEALING REFERENCES
- Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11):1211. DOI: 10.3390/nu9111211.
- Li, J., & Kirsner, R, S. (2005). Wound Healing. In Robinson…et al (Ed.), Surgery of the Skin (Pages 97-115). Mosby Elsevier.
- Rangaraj, A., Harding, K. & Leaper, D. (2011). Role of collagen in wound management. Wounds UK, 7(2), 54-63.
- Boyera, N., Galey, I., & Bernard, B. A. (1998). Effect of vitamin C and its derivatives on collagen synthesis and cross-linking by normal human fibroblasts. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 20(3), 151-8. DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-2494.1998.171747.x.
