Researchers at University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas, Nevada reviews previous studies and find supplementation with certain amino acids can help diabetic foot wounds.

Diabetic foot wounds are one of severe complications resulting from diabetes mellitus.  The literature review shows targeted amino acid supplementation with arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) is effective at helping diabetic foot wounds.

The review finds arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) help diabetic foot wounds by increasing the production of hydroproline, which is needed for the making of collagen, the protein needed for treating diabetic foot ulcers.

One human trial shows that amino acid supplementation significantly improves wound depth and wound-appearance scores in patients with diabetic foot wounds.

The review concludes "Given the results of our pilot study, and on the basis of a review of the literature, the administration of a simple amino acid supplement may improve the healing of diabetic foot wounds via increased collagen production." (David Liu)

Jones MS, Rivera M, Puccinelli CL, Wang MY, Williams SJ, Barber AE.  Targeted Amino Acid Supplementation in Diabetic Foot Wounds: Pilot Data and a Review of the Literature.  Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2014 Sep 12.