The effect of a protein-free diet on the healing of gingival wounds in rats

Abstract

Adult male rats received gingival wounds and were placed on a protein-free diet either simultaneously with, prior too, or following the injury. Histologically it was noted that animals wounded and simultaneously placed on a protein-free diet showed a delay in connective tissue and bone repair. Animals which were placed on a protein-free diet following the healing of the injury showed breakdown of the healed wound as the nutritional deprivation progressed. A latent effect causing interferences with repair was also noted in the healing wound of animals which had been protein deprived and re-fed prior to the oral injury.