Nutrition Bytes

The standard protocol for the nutritional care of burn patients is a diet providing large amounts of protein and overall calories. However, recent studies seem to show that supplemental intake of certain dietary components can provide additional wound-healing effects and lead to a more rapid recovery from burn injury. Studies have already been conducted which show such clinical effects when ornithine a-ketoglutarate and certain trace elements are administered (7,8,17). Preliminary data regarding the efficacy of immune-enhancing diets (IEDs) in burn nutrition have provided ambiguous results so far (12,14) Further research is needed in order to establish whether existing IEDs can be beneficial in this type of application. It does seem, however, that most future advances in burn nutrition will be related to supplements and diet regimens that can enhance post-burn immune function.