Tuesday June 24, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A report in British Journal of Community Nursing suggests that taking vitamin C can help speed up the wound-healing process.  Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid plays a role in all phases of wound healing, according to the report.

Vitamin C is needed for neutrophil apoptosis and clearance and synthesis, maturation, secretion and degradation of collagen and vitamin C deficiency affects the maturation by modifying collagen production and scar formation.

The report also claims that the body has its capability of striving to maintain homeostasis of ascorbic acid, but wounding could result in the diminishing of ascorbic acid in the blood and tissue.

The report suggests that doctors should "be aware of both the nutritional status of patients with either acute or chronic wounds and the possibility of any AA (ascorbic acid) deficiency which may hinder healing."  (dabid Liu, PHD)

Moores J.  Vitamin C: a wound healing perspective.  Br J Community Nurs. 2013 Dec;Suppl:S6, S8-11.