The Efficiency of Curcumin and Fish Oil During the Formation of Pressure Ulcers in Mice: Do Curcumin and Fish Oil Prevent and Heal Pressure Ulcers?

Abstract

Context: PUs increase mortality in intensive care units and the cost of hospital stays by prolonging the actual treatment process.

Objective: The study, in a mouse model, aimed to investigate the efficacy of curcumin and fish oil in preventing and healing PUs by administiring them simultaneously intraperitoneally.

Design: The research team performed an animal study.

Setting: The study took place at Eskişehir Osmangazi University's Medical and Surgical, Experimental Animal Practice Center.

Animals: The animals were 28 healthy, female Balb c mice, eight weeks of age weighing about 30 grams.

Intervention: The research team induced PUs in all mice using neodymium magnets capable of forming approximately 1000 Gauss of magnetic force.The team randomly divided the mice into four groups,with seven animals in each group: (1) the control group,which received an injecition if dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) only; (2) the curcumin group,which received an injection of 200 mg/kg of curcumin in DMSO; (3) the fish oil group,which received an injection of fish oil; and (4) the curcumin+fish oil group,which received an injection of 200 mg/kg of curcumin in DMSO and fish oil.The mice received all injections intraperitoneally.

Outcome measures: To determine a wound's severity, the healing process, and nonhealing tissue, the research team examined the tissues separately: (1) dor degree of ulceration, (2) inflammation, (3) reepithelization, (4) neovascularization, and (5) granulation.

Results: The study found third-degree pressure ulcer in all groups. No significant differences existed between the groups in terms of inflammation, which occurred in the control group with a maximum rate of 41.2%. The formation of reepithelization showed a significant difference between groups. Complete reepithelization ratios was higher in the fish oil group with 50% than the curcumin group and curcumin + fish oil group with 25%. Partiel reepithelization was seen with 46.1% highest ratio in curcumin + fish oil group. For neovascularization, the highest rate occurred in the curcumin +fish oil group at 75% at >10 vessels per high power field (HPF) variable, and second highest ratio with 25% was curcumin group. Also 6-10 vessels per HPF (100%) was seen 42.9% in curcumin group and 42.9% in curcumin and fish oil group. Thus, amount of vessels were more in curcumin and fish oil group and curcumin group than control group and fish oil group. For formation of 3th degree granulation, the highest rate occurred in the fish oil group at 46.2% and second highest ratio was seen in curcumin + fish oil group with 38%. 2nd degree granulation was seen 55.6% in curcumin group. Thus, giving treatment induces the granulation that seen the lowest granulation in control group with 100%.

Conclusions: The current research recommends using curcumin, fish oil, and curcumin + fish oil, applied intraperitoneally with compression, in the treatment of acute PUs. Curcumin + fish oil can prevent a wound from becoming chronic, reduce the complications that PUs can cause, and provide a faster recovery, thus reducing costs.

Keywords: pressure ulcer, curcumin, fish oil.