Collagen and omega-3s for the healing of major burns Original paper

Burn injuries result in endocrine, metabolic, and immune responses that are a natural part of the healing process. However, an exaggerated and prolonged response can interfere with healing.^[1]

Preliminary research suggests that collagen hydrolysates and omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in the healing of burns. However, direct evidence for the efficacy of these compounds in the treatment of major burns, as well as evidence of their potential synergistic effects, was lacking.

In this 4-week randomized controlled trial, 57 adults (average age of 35) with 2nd or 3rd degree burns to 20%–45% of their bodies were assigned to one of the following groups:

• Collagen: The participants consumed a drink containing 40 grams of hydrolyzed collagen and 10 grams of sunflower oil daily.
• Collagen + omega-3s: The participants consumed a drink containing 40 grams of hydrolyzed collagen and 10 mL of fish oil daily, containing 1,800 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1,200 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
• Placebo: The participants consumed a carbohydrate-based drink daily.

All participants received standard treatment (such as medications, surgery, and wound dressings, as required).

The outcomes included the serum levels of several biochemical parameters (measured on weeks 2 and 3), including prealbumin (a biomarker of nutritional status), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1; a protein associated with better wound healing), and the ratio of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP; an inflammatory biomarker) to prealbumin, as well as the rate of 95% wound healing (measured on weeks 2, 3, and 4), the time in days to 95% healing, the time in days to complete healing, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS; assesses wound healing and scar quality) measured on week 4, and duration of hospital stay.

The researchers made statistical adjustments in their analyses to account for multiple comparisons and the potential confounding effects of baseline values and protein intake on weeks 2 and 3.

On week 3, the levels of prealbumin were higher (better) and the CRP/prealbumin ratio was lower (better) in the collagen + omega-3s group compared to the placebo group.

The wound healing rate was higher with collagen + omega-3s and with collagen alone than with placebo. The time to 95% wound healing and the time to complete wound healing were lower with collagen + omega-3s and with collagen alone than with placebo.

VSS was lower (better) with collagen + omega-3s and with collagen alone than with placebo. Hospital stay duration was shorter with collagen than with placebo.

There were no differences between the collagen + omega-3s group and the collagen alone group in any of the outcomes.