Tissue damage repair (wound healing) involves many different cell types, including fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and immune cells. It is a complex and dynamic process consisting of successive phases that can last anywhere from a few seconds to a very long time: from the formation of a fibrin clot (hemostasis) and the inflammatory response, followed by cell proliferation, re-epithelialization, granulation, and angiogenesis, and finally concluding with matrix remodeling and scar formation.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential micronutrient, present in the human body at concentrations of less than 50 mg/kg. Primary sources of zinc include animal-based foods—such as oysters, liver, meat, eggs, fish, milk, and dairy products—as well as cereals, although zinc from plant-based sources is more difficult for the body to absorb. Despite the body’s very limited reserves, this element serves as a cofactor for approximately 3,000 proteins and enzymes, accounting for about 10% of all proteins encoded by the human genome. It participates in a vast array of cellular processes, including the regulation of gene transcription, DNA repair, apoptosis, metabolic reactions, the regulation of the extracellular matrix, and antioxidant defense. It is therefore not surprising that zinc is a crucial nutrient for growth and development, bone metabolism, the proper functioning of the immune and central nervous systems, and the repair of tissue damage. Zinc plays a role in each of these stages, which explains why individuals with a zinc deficiency often experience delayed healing of wounds and various types of lesions. Consequently, treatment in such cases frequently involves the topical application of zinc-based preparations (such as zinc sulfate or zinc oxide), often combined with oral supplementation of this vital nutrient. Furthermore, an increasing number of studies in recent years have highlighted how an adequate intake of nutrients and trace elements can facilitate the healing of various types of lesions—including complex or chronic wounds—and support better recovery following surgical procedures, which are, in essence, intentionally induced injuries.