ABSTRACT
Wound healing is intricately linked to nutrition. Severe protein-calorie undernutrition in humans alters tissue regeneration, the inflammatory reaction, and immune function.1 Undernourished patients are more likely to have postoperative complications than well-nourished patients.2 After vascular surgery, hypoalbuminemia and low transferrin levels have predicted wound healing complications.3 Hospitalized patients with severe undernutrition are at a higher risk for death, sepsis, infections, and increased length of stay.4
