The Role of Anabolic Hormones for Wound Healing in Catabolic States

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the interrelationship between hormones, nutrition, and wound healing. METHODS The data on various hormones and their effects on specific elements of nutrition and wound healing are reviewed. RESULTS The key anabolic hormones are human growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin, and testosterone and its analogs. Although each has specific metabolic actions, there is also a very important hormone-hormone interaction. A deficiency of these hormones occurs in acute and chronic catabolic states, resulting in lean mass loss and impairing the healing process. CONCLUSION There is a well-recognized interrelationship between hormones, nutrition, and wound healing. The anabolic process of protein synthesis, with new tissue formation, requires the action of anabolic hormones. Exogenous administration of these agents has been shown to maintain or increase lean body mass as well as directly stimulate the healing process through their anabolic and anticatabolic actions.