Research Roundup

This literature review aimed to investigate the effects of burn injury on nutritional requirement. Thermal burns elicit the greatest metabolic response of all traumas. This is due to multi-system involvement. The nutritional needs of burn patients are significant. Caloric needs are increased, as well as the need for micronutrient supplementation and correct macronutrient percentages.

The increased metabolic and nutritional needs of major burn patients can be challenging. Some interventions to attenuate this problem include: elevated room temperature, early excision, use of occlusive dressings, nutrition support and pharmacological management.

There are 8 scales published on increased caloric needs with burn victims, including: ASPEN (one of the most simple), and the Toronto Formula and Harris Benedict formula, which consider burn size, activity, ventilator status, energy expenditure, gender, and age.

Vitamin and trace element supplementation in burn patients are recommended for children aged 0-13+ years. Supplementation for micronutrients such as vitamin A (wound healing and epithelial growth), vitamin C (collagen production and cross-linking), vitamin D, folate, copper, selenium, and zinc is also recommended.