Here is one more reason why fish should be included in your diet. A protein which was found in fish could promote enhanced and faster wound healing in humans, a new study confirms. Scientists have discovered that a certain protein found in the skin of tilapia fish can promote skin repair in rats without any immune reaction. Thus, this can be used in humans too.
In the past, collagen has been used to help health skin faster. However, when the collagen comes from animals like cow and pigs, there is a small risk of disease transfer specifically foot-and-mouth disease.
In a new study entitled, "Development of Biomimetic Tilapia Collagen Nanofibers for Skin Regeneration through Inducing Keratinocytes Differentiation and Collagen Synthesis of Dermal Fibroblasts" and published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Tian Zhou, from the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in China, and colleagues tested fish collagen's potential as a more benign wound treatment.
Collagen is the second most common substance in the body with water being the first, according to Fit Day. It provides the basic foundation for connective tissues and the skin. According to Medical News Today, it is the major component of connective tissues, tendons, skin, bones, cartilage, blood vessels and membranes.
When wound dressings are made from collagen it can help keep bacteria out and they are easier to apply. Also, there is a smaller risk for any allergic reaction. Aside from that, when it wil come from fish, it would not pose any health risk. So, the researchers decided to test its potency as a wound adhesive and wound healing booster.
To reach their findings, they made nano fibers from the collagen of tilapia fish. They used them to cover wounds in the skin of laboratory rats. They later found out that the rats with the nano fiber healed faster than those not using it.
They then concluded that it has a good potential for clinical trials in humans. They also acknowledged the funding from National Natural Science Foundation of China.
