Vitamin C and D Insufficiency in Burn Patients Undergoing Rehabilitative Therapy-Preliminary Result

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The burn increase the requirement for the antioxidative vitamin C and decrease the plasma concentration of vitamin D due to the loss of skin body surface area. We investigated the vitamin C and D status and the prevalence of vitamin C and D insufficiency in adult burn patients undergoing rehabilitative therapy. METHODS: 256 burn patients admitted to the department of rehabilitation medicine from April 2013 to September 2014 were tested for the plasma level of vitamin C and D[25(OH)D]. Vitamin C insufficiency was considered as or =20%, mean plasma concentration of vitamin C and vitamin D[25(OH)D] were significantly lower (P=0.023, P<0.001). With adjusting for potential confounder such as age, sex, burn type, mean serum 25 (OH)D levels was significantly decreased 0.07 ng/ml per one percent of burned surface area (beta=-0.07, P<0.001), but with adjusting for age, sex, burn type, length of ICU stay and duration from burn injury to sampling, vitamin C and vitamin D[25(OH)D] were not significantly decreased (P=0.221, P=0.142). CONCLUSION: Vitamin C and D insufficiency were common nutrient problems in burn patients undergoing rehabilitative therapy. Further studies will be needed to establish the effective way to improve vitamin C and D status and prevent nutritional complications.