Sugar (sucrose) and fatty acids compounds with triglicerydes on the treatment of wounds: Experimental study in rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the last 10 years, the use of essential fatty acids (EFA) compounds for the treatment of wounds has increased in Brazil, at the same time that there has been reduced indication for the use of sugar. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to saline, sugar and EFA on induced wounds in rats. METHODS: A 400 mm2 wound was produced on the back of each Wistar rat. The rats were divided into three groups, each being treated with saline, sugar or EFA. All the animals received a closed dressing on the wound, changed daily. Measures were taken in four moments and the values of wound area reduction by healing, cellular inflammatory response, collagen ordering and types I and III collagen density were assessed. RESULTS: Wound healing was equal in all the three groups, but sugar promoted inflammatory response modulation between the 7th and 14th days. On the 20th postoperative day, there were no differences between the three treated groups concerning types I and III collagen. CONCLUSION: The wounds healed in the three groups. The sugar group promoted effective cellular inflammatory response modulation. There were no differences between all the treated groups regarding types I and III collagen at the end of the study. ©2009 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.