A multicenter, randomized, controlled study of the use of nutritional supplements containing collagen peptides to facilitate the healing of pressure ulcers

Since collagen peptide stimulates fibroblast growth in skin, it may accelerate the healing of pressure ulcers. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to verify whether the intake of collagen peptides in the form of a supplement drink facilitates the healing of pressure ulcers. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial in patients with pressure ulcers. Patients were randomized into 3 groups at a 1:1:1 ratio; control group (usual care), collagen peptide-containing drink group and arginine-containing drink group. The DESIGN-R tool was used to assess healing of pressure ulcers, and nutritional status was measured for 4 weeks while consuming the usual daily meals. Out of 66 patients randomized, 51 patients were analyzed, since 15 patients were excluded from the final analysis. The total DESIGN-R score in patients who received the collagen peptide-containing drink (n = 18) was significantly lower than that in patients in the control group (n = 16) after 2 weeks as well as at the final value. However, the DESIGN-R score in the arginine-containing drink group (n = 17) did not show difference from the control group. There was no significant difference in nutrition status among the 3 groups through the study. Our results indicated that a supplemental addition of the collagen peptide-containing drink to the usual meal facilitated pressure ulcer healing, since the collagen peptide-containing drink led to more changes in the DESIGN-R scores.