Supplemental Protein and a Multinutrient Beverage Speed Wound Healing after Acute Sleep Restriction in Healthy Adults

J Nutr. 2022 Jun 9;152(6):1560-1573. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxac064.

Abstract

Background: Physiologic and psychologic stress slow healing from experimental wounds by impairing immune function.

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether supplemental protein and multinutrient supplementation improved wound healing markers after acute stress induced by acute sleep restriction.

Methods: In this single-blind, crossover study in generally healthy young adults (18 males/2 females; mean ± SD age: 19.7 ± 2.30 y), experimental wounds were created by removing the top layer of forearm blisters induced via suction after 48 h of 72-h sleep restriction (2-h nightly sleep), a protocol previously shown to delay wound healing. Skin barrier restoration (measured by transepidermal water loss) assessed wound healing ≤10 d postblistering, and local immune responses were evaluated by serial measurement of cytokine concentrations in fluid collected at wound sites for 48 h postblistering. Participants consumed controlled, isocaloric diets with either 0.900 g · kg-1 · d-1 protein plus placebo (PLA) or 1.50 g · kg-1 · d-1 protein plus multinutrient beverage [l-arginine: 20.0 g/d; l-glutamine: 30.0 g/d; omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids: 1.00 g/d; zinc sulfate: 24.0 mg/d; cholecalciferol: 800 IU/d; and vitamin C: 400 mg/d] (NUT) during sleep restriction and for 4 d afterwards.

Results: Skin barrier restoration (primary outcome) was shorter for NUT (median: 3.98 d; IQR: 1.17 d) than for PLA (median: 5.25 d; IQR: 1.05 d) (P = 0.001). Cytokines from wound fluid (secondary outcome) increased over time (main effect of time P ≤ 0.001), except IL-13 (P = 0.07); however, no effects of treatment were observed.

Conclusions: Supplemental nutrition may promote wound healing after sleep restriction in healthy adults including military personnel, the latter of which also have a high incidence of wounds and infection.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03525184.

Keywords: cytokines; first responders; immune function; military personnel; sleep insufficiency; stress; tissue damage; tissue healing.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Beverages
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Cytokines
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polyesters / pharmacology
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Sleep
  • Wound Healing*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Polyesters

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03525184