DIETARY PEPTIDES IMPROVE WOUND-HEALING FOLLOWING SURGERY

To determine if peptide-based enteral diets improve wound healing when compared to amino acid-based diets, a prospective randomized study wa s conducted using 38 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Following placement of a standardized abdominal wound, 20 animals were randomized to an isoni trogenous peptide-based (PEP) versus amino acid-based diet (AA) for 10 d. In addition, 18 animals were randomized to an amino acid-based die t supplemented with the peptide carnosine (CARN) or its constituent am ino acids (Control). Diets were administered through small bowel feedi ng tubes. Wound bursting pressure was significantly higher in the PEP animals compared to the AA animals (179 +/- 9 versus 138 +/- 12 mmHg; P = 0.02). In addition, wound bursting pressure was significantly grea ter in the CARN animals compared to the Control animals (143 +/- 10 ve rsus 116 +/- 8 mmHg; P = 0.005). Peptide-based enteral diets improve w ound healing when compared to nonpeptide generating amino acid-based d iets. We also conclude that the dietary peptide carnosine represents a dietary peptide that improves wound healing when administered as part of a complete enteral formula. This effect on wound healing may be cl inically relevant because carnosine is not found in most enteral formu las. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1998.