A study suggests that using Atlantic cod skin as a temporary wound covering can reduce hospital stays and complication rates for burn patients compared to synthetic alternatives.
Key facts
- •Patients treated with fish skin spent an average of 23 days in the hospital, compared to 35 days for those receiving synthetic substitutes.
- •Complication rates, such as sepsis, were 8 percent for the fish-skin group and 16 percent for the synthetic-substitute group.
- •The study was funded by Kerecis, the manufacturer of the fish-skin product, though the company did not perform the data analysis.
- •Atlantic cod is preferred for this medical application due to its relatively large body size, which allows for significant skin yield per fish.
- •More than 30,000 people worldwide require medical attention for burns every day.
Researchers found that patients treated with Atlantic cod skin grafts spent significantly less time in the hospital and experienced fewer complications than those treated with synthetic substitutes. The study analyzed data from 465 adults across 49 burn centers between 2019 and 2025. The fish skin, manufactured by the company Kerecis, is currently approved for use in the United States and the United Kingdom.
By the numbers
Study Findings and Methodology
The research compared 93 patients treated with GraftGuide, an intact fish skin product, against a control group treated with synthetic or biosynthetic collagen scaffolds. All participants had moderately sized burns, averaging 13 percent of their body surface, with most cases classified as mixed or third-degree. The two groups were matched for age, sex, and injury severity to ensure comparability.
Potential Biological Advantages
Experts suggest that Atlantic cod skin may be effective because it contains omega-3 fatty acids and collagen, which resemble human skin structure. The omega-3 content is believed to trigger an initial inflammatory response that helps control bleeding before quickly subsiding to promote healing. Additionally, because few fish viruses affect humans, the skin does not require harsh detergents that might otherwise remove beneficial fatty acids.
Future Research
While the current findings are positive, researchers note that formal head-to-head clinical trials are necessary to confirm the results. An ongoing trial is currently evaluating whether fish skin can reduce the need for traditional skin grafts in second-degree burns by using patients as their own controls.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by New Scientist.
