Nutrients with Antioxidant Properties and Their Effects on Lower-Limb Ulcers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Chronic lower-limb ulcers (LLUs) are ulcers that fail to proceed through an orderly and timely process to produce anatomic and functional integrity. LLUs reduce the quality of life of affected individuals and are a public health problem. The treatment options include medications or surgery. Nutrition therapy is an important adjunct to improve the clinical picture and healing of LLUs. Considering that nutrients with antioxidant properties can improve the process of tissue healing, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant nutrient supplementation in the treatment of LLUs through randomized clinical trials. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The guiding question was—can antioxidant nutrients help in the treatment of chronic LLUs? In total, 1184 articles were found when searching for antioxidant nutrients associated with the most common causes of LLUs. Fourteen articles were included in this review after removing duplicates, studies with topical and/or venous use of antioxidants, and articles published in other languages, except English. Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, C, D, and resveratrol along with probiotics positively improved the ulcer healing. These effects were more significant when there was initially a deficiency of the respective supplemented nutrients. Therefore, correcting and maintaining an adequate nutritional status can improve ulcer healing and contribute to the clinical treatment of patients with LLUs.