The delay in tissue repair of cutaneous wounds in diabetic patients increase hospital costs and morbidity in surgical procedures. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of zinc oxide and chromium as diet supplements (ZC) in tissue repair of cutaneous wounds. This study was carried out in 69 Wistar rats with weight ranging from 200 to 270 grams divided in 5 (five) groups (G). Diabetes was induced in 53 animals with streptozotocin in the first week of the study (GIII, GIV, and GV). After the 8th day, normal (GI, GII) and diabetic rats (GIII, GIV, GV) received diet supplements together with food and water: GI, no treatment (NT); GII, ZC added to the water; GIII, NT; GIV, insulin; GV, ZC and insulin. On the 15th day an elliptical fragment was taken from the skin and from the dorsum of the animals. The operative wounds were then photographed on days 15, 22, 29 and 36. These pictures were sent to a computer and wound areas were calculated. The scores obtained were then subjected to statistical analysis. On the 22nd day of assessment there was no significant difference (NS) in the reduction of the operative wound site among the groups (RA). In the following dates the diabetic rats that did not receive the treatment (GII) also did not have any significant difference in RA in comparison to normal rats (GI). On the other hand, those rats treated with zinc, chromium and insulin (GII, GIV. and GV) had a higher RA level than those of the GIII did. The GV had a higher level of RA than GIV, but it was not significant. (NS). The conclusion was that the treatment of diabetic rats with insulin and diet supplement with ZC improved the healing of cutaneous wounds.
Zinc; Chromium; Wound healing; Diabetes