Which nutrient deficiency may impair the inflammatory response in wound healing?

• A. Zinc
• B. Proteins
• C. Vitamin A
• D. Vitamin C

Answer: (C)

Nutritional status shapes the inflammatory phase of wound healing, and vitamin A plays a key role in immune function and barrier integrity. Adequate vitamin A supports the normal activity of immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages and helps maintain healthy epithelia. When vitamin A is deficient, immune cell function can falter and epithelial barriers may be compromised, leading to a weaker inflammatory response and slower healing.

Other nutrients are important for healing in different ways—zinc supports immune function and tissue remodeling, vitamin C drives collagen synthesis, and proteins provide the building blocks for new tissue. But the inflammatory response specifically hinges more directly on vitamin A’s influence on immune cell performance and epithelial maintenance, making its deficiency the most impactful for this aspect of wound healing.