If you’re managing a wound that won’t improve—or you’re caring for someone who is—you may be wondering if there are vitamins that promote healing of wounds. It’s a smart question. Nutrition plays a much bigger role in wound recovery than most people realize, and vitamin deficiencies can quietly sabotage progress, even with proper dressings and treatment in place.

At Advanced Wound Therapy, we care for patients across Oklahoma with chronic and complex wounds. While we don’t prescribe nutritional supplements directly, we always consider the whole patient in our treatment plan. That includes how well the body is supporting itself from the inside out.

Here’s what you should know about the connection between vitamins and wound outcomes—and why vitamins alone won’t solve the problem.

The Connection Between Nutrition and Wound Recovery

Wound recovery is a complex biological process that involves cell repair, collagen production, tissue remodeling, and immune function. All of these require specific nutrients to function properly.

When patients are malnourished, vitamin-deficient, or unable to absorb nutrients efficiently (as is common in older adults or those with chronic illnesses), wounds are slower to improve and more prone to infection.

That’s why nutrition is a key part of any comprehensive wound care plan—and why we always assess patient health and lifestyle, not just the wound itself.

Important Vitamins That Support the Wound Environment

While no supplement can replace expert wound care, these are the most commonly discussed vitamins that promote the healing of wounds:

1. Vitamin C

Known for its immune-boosting properties, Vitamin C also plays a key role in collagen formation, which is critical for building new tissue. It also helps protect the wound from oxidative stress during recovery.

Patients with low Vitamin C levels may see weaker tissue formation or an increased risk of reopening wounds.

2. Vitamin A

Vitamin A supports cell growth and immune function, both of which are important in managing open or chronic wounds. It also contributes to epithelialization, the process of forming new skin over a wound.

However, excess Vitamin A can be harmful—especially in patients with liver conditions—so it should only be taken under medical supervision.

3. Vitamin E

Often taken for skin health, Vitamin E has antioxidant properties. But in wound care, it’s a bit more complicated. While it may help with the reduction of scar formation in small amounts, high doses can actually slow tissue repair or interfere with Vitamin K (which affects clotting).

We don’t recommend using Vitamin E supplements, specifically for wound support, without clinical guidance.

4. Vitamin D

Vitamin D isn’t typically thought of in relation to wound care, but deficiencies are very common, especially in older adults. Low Vitamin D levels have been linked to impaired immune response and poor inflammatory control—both key factors in wound management.

Improving Vitamin D status may support the body’s overall ability to handle the demands of wound recovery.

5. Zinc (Not a vitamin, but equally important)

Zinc supports tissue repair and immune response, and it’s often depleted in patients with chronic wounds or infections. Supplementation may help in cases of deficiency, but excess zinc can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.

But Vitamins Alone Won’t Fix a Wound

We want to be clear: While vitamins may promote wound healing, they are not considered a treatment plan. If a wound is draining, infected, growing, or not improving, it requires expert wound care—regardless of what supplements are being used.

Here’s why:

• A vitamin won’t remove dead tissue or manage bacterial load
• Supplements can’t identify pressure issues or offload the wound
• Nutrition doesn’t address moisture imbalance, tunneling, or underlying disease
• Only a clinician can safely assess the full condition of the wound and the patient

That’s where Advanced Wound Therapy comes in.

How AWT Supports the Whole Patient

Our approach is rooted in the belief that wound care is more than treating a sore. It’s about treating a person—and that includes their nutrition, lifestyle, home environment, and support system.

When we visit a patient, we look beyond the surface:

• Is the patient able to eat enough to support recovery?
• Are they getting the nutrients they need from food?
• Do they have barriers like poor appetite, chronic illness, or limited access to meals?

If needed, we work with the patient’s existing care team or recommend coordination with primary care or nutrition professionals to ensure every part of the recovery process is supported.

We also provide:

• Detailed wound evaluations
• Advanced dressing strategies tailored to each case
• Infection management and debridement when appropriate
• Amniotic tissue grafts for qualifying wounds
• Real-time care adjustments based on how the wound responds

For more on how amniotic grafts are used in wound management, check out this peer-reviewed clinical study.

Don’t Rely on Supplements Alone

If your wound isn’t improving, don’t assume a vitamin deficiency is the only issue—or that supplements alone can turn things around. The body needs support from every angle, and that includes expert wound care tailored to the situation.

If you or a loved one has a wound that won’t improve, Advanced Wound Therapy can help. Let us bring skilled wound care directly to your home, evaluate the full picture, and guide you toward safe, proven strategies that support the wound—not just the symptoms.

Author: Matt Carmichael, DO