The effect of oral supplementation of zinc sulphate on primary wound healing in rats

Abstract

The effect of oral supplementation of zinc sulphate on primary wound healing of abdominal wounds was studied in normal rats receiving a standard diet. Daily oral administration of 40 mg. of zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) per rat for 13 days postoperatively resulted in a 35–36 per cent increase in the bursting strength of sutured incision wounds. This increase was statistically significant and corresponded to a gain of about 13 days in healing time. The same daily dose of zinc did not result in a significant increase of wound‐bursting strength measured on the sixth day after operation.