Because Cu, Se, and Zn are involved in immune and antioxidative defens
e mechanisms and tissue repair, deficiencies might aggravate complicat
ions classically observed with bums. After measuring massive cutaneous
trace element losses in 10 burn patients, our aim in this study was t
o determine whether large intravenous intakes of Cu, Zn, and Se can mo
dify serum trace element levels and recovery after major burns. Ten pa
tients, aged 34 +/- 6 yr (mean F SD), admitted to the bums center of a
Swiss university hospital with thermal bums on 41 +/- 9% of their bod
y surface were studied prospectively, with trace element balance studi
es from day 1 (D1) to D7 postinjury. Urine and blood samples were also
collected on D10, D15, D20, and D25. The patients were divided into t
wo groups of five and received either standard (group 1, control) or g
reatly increased (group 2, treatment: 4.5 mg Cu, 190 mu g Se, and 40 m
g Zn/day) trace element intakes. Energy and protein intake and wound t
reatment were similar in both groups. The treatment group was characte
rized by improved Cu, Se, and Zn status (increase in serum levels and
various protein indicators), a much larger leukocyte increase between
D4 and D14 (mainly neutrophils), and shorter hospital stay (45 days) c
ompared with the untreated group (57 days). Grafting requirements were
more extensive in group 1. Although severity of injury and wound trea
tment were similar in the groups, the duration of hospitalization was
lower in the treated group. Further studies are required to determine
whether this is related to trace element supplementation.