Omega-3 fatty acids and wound healing in diabetes

Introduction: Omega-3 (w-3) fatty acids are proper fat to human. These fats are present mainly in fish or fish oil. The w-3 fatty acids have the potential role in prevention of different diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Impaired wound healing is well-documented complication in chronic diabetes mellitus. With considering to the mechanism involved in impairment of wound healing in diabetic subject and also the anti-inflammatory effect and/or protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, of fish oil, this oil may have beneficial effects on wound healing, and acceleration of healing. This reviewed investigates the effects of dietary or non-dietary (topically application) intake of w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in wound healing, especially diabetic wound. Materials and Methods: Literature review to cause on articles in which effects of w-3 fatty acids and w-6 fatty acids were investigated in wound healing. Results: This review reports evidences on: (1) positive effect of w-3 fatty acids (fish oil) on diabetic wound healing was more than w-6 fatty acids (2) the effects of fish oil on wound healing in chronic diabetes is less than acute diabetes (3) in chronic period, the topical application of oil more effective than systemic administration (4) w-3 fatty acids caused acceleration of wound in diabetes, and other kinds of wound including gastric ulcer, intestinal, colon ulcer, and Burn. (5) more recent research has established on animal wound models (not patients). Conclusion: The data reported in this review may suggest that, fish oil may represent a new class of drugs (agents) that has the beneficial effect on wound healing, for example in diabetic wound.