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Micronutrients
• Vitamins and minerals are essential to the health of the body and should be
included in all nutritional assessments.
Other Vitamins and Micronutrients
• Vitamin C
▶ Vitamin C is known to be an essential vitamin in the role of tissue repair.
▶ Vitamin C aids in tissue regeneration and collagen formation and is required for
collagen tensile strength.
▶ Vitamin C plays a major role in the absorption of iron, activation of copper,
protein metabolism, and plays an important role in immune function.
▶ Excess Vitamin C will be excreted in the urine, and long-term excess vitamin C
may cause oxalate deposits in bone or soft tissues.
▶ Large doses are sometimes provided for antioxidant activity.
• Zinc:
▶ Zinc is a trace mineral that is necessary for cell replication and growth.
▶ Zinc plays a major role in immune function, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis and
proliferation of inflammatory cells and epithelial cells.
▶ Zinc is influenced by infection and the inflammatory process.
▶ Inflammation and/or infection may falsely lower zinc serum levels. In this case
serum zinc levels should not be used to determine need for supplementation.
▶ Zinc levels need to be monitored by a health care professional to ensure they stay
within normal range.
• Vitamin E
▶ Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is known to act as an antioxidant. It is
responsible for normal fat metabolism and collagen synthesis.
▶ Research has demonstrated a positive effect on pressure injury healing when
combined with arginine and zinc in energ y-dense oral supplements.
▶ Recommended daily allowance for healthy adults is 15mg/day.
• Vitamin D:
▶ Vitamin D, referred to as calciferol is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present
in foods, especially fortified/enriched foods, and can be generated by sun exposure.
▶ Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum
calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal bone mineralization.
▶ Vitamin D also aids in reduction of inflammation as well as modulation cell
growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and glucose metabolism.
