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Effect of Supplements of Zinc Salts on the Healing of Granulating Wounds in the Rat and Guinea Pig

Department of Surgery, Medical Buildings, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland

It has now been universally accepted that zinc deficiency interferes in some way with wound healing, but the claims that the addition of zinc supplements to the normally nourished rat accelerates wound healing to super-normal levels has, on investigation, produced contradictory results. In this study the rate of healing of granulating wounds on the backs of two species of animals, the rat and the guinea pig, has been studied when supplements of zinc salts were given in association with a normal diet. The zinc supplements were administered either orally, parenterally, or topically. There was no difference in the rate of healing in either species of animal given zinc supplements by any of the routes used.

KEY WORDS: • wound healing • dietary zinc supplements • rats • guinea pigs

¹ Present address: Surgical Ward, Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Manuscript received 11 February 1974.