Specific nutritional support accelerates pressure ulcer healing and reduces wound care intensity in non-malnourished patients

Objective: We investigated the potential of a high-protein, arginine- and micronutrient-enriched oral nutritional supplement (ONS) to improve healing of pressure ulcers in non-malnourished patients who would usually not be considered for extra nutritional support. Methods: Forty-three non-malnourished subjects with stage III or IV pressure ulcers were included in a multicountry, randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel group trial. They were offered 200 mL of the specific ONS or a non-caloric control product three times per day, in addition to their regular diet and standard wound care, for a maximum of 8 wk. Results were compared with repeated-measures mixed models (RMMM), analysis of variance, or Fisher's exact tests for categorical parameters. Results: Supplementation with the specific ONS accelerated pressure ulcer healing, indicated by a significantly different decrease in ulcer size compared with the control, over the period of 8 wk (P