Which of the following is absolutely essential for wound healing?: (A) Vitamin D, (B) Carbohydrates, (C) Vitamin C, (D) Vitamin E
Answer is C. Fibroblasts require vitamin C to produce collagen. There is an increase in the tensile strength of the wound due to increased collagen, which is at first deposited in a random fashion and consists of type III collagen. The remodelling phase is characterised by maturation of collagen (type I replacing type III until a ratio of 4:1 is achieved). There is a realignment of collagen fibres along the lines of tension Bailey and love 26th edition pg :25