Introduction: Burn is among the most severe forms of critical illness, associated with extensive and prolonged physical, metabolic and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an oral, low-cost, and accessible collagen-based supplement on wound healing in patients with burn.
Methods: In this randomized double-blind controlled pilot clinical trial, 31 men, 18-60years, with 20-30% total body surface area burn were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a collagen-based supplement (1000kcal) or an isocaloric placebo, for 4 weeks. Serum pre-albumin, rate of wound healing, length of hospital stay, and anthropometries were assessed at baseline, and the end of week 2 and 4.
Results: Serum pre-albumin was significantly higher at week 2 (29.7±13.6 vs. 17.8±7.5mg/dL, P=0.006) and week 4 (35.1±7.6 vs. 28.3±8.2mg/dL, P=0.023) in collagen than control group. Changes in pre-albumin concentration were also significantly higher in collagen group at week 2 (13.9±9.8 vs. -1.9±10.3mg/dL, P<0.001) and week 4 (19.2±7.5 vs. 8.5±10.1mg/dL, P=0.002). The Hazard ratio of wound healing was 3.7 times in collagen compared to control group (95% CI: 1.434-9.519, P=0.007). Hospital stay was clinically, but not statistically, lower in collagen than control group (9.4±4.6 vs. 13.5±7 days, P=0.063). There were no significant differences in weight, body mass index, dietary energy and protein intakes between the two groups.
Conclusion: The findings showed that a hydrolyzed collagen-based supplement could significantly improve wound healing and circulating pre-albumin, and clinically reduce hospital stay in patients with 20-30% burn.
Keywords: Burn; Collagen; Hospital stay; Pre-albumin; Wound healing.
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