Which of the following is a sign of EFAD?

• A. Impaired wound healing
• B. Hyperglycemia
• C. Weight gain
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (A)

Essential fatty acids are needed to maintain the skin barrier and support wound healing through proper membrane function and signaling molecules. When EFAD occurs, keratinocyte activity and the synthesis of eicosanoids involved in inflammation and repair are impaired, leading to slower or faulty wound healing. This makes impaired wound healing a classic sign of EFAD. The other options don’t fit as well: hyperglycemia relates to glucose metabolism rather than fatty acid status, weight gain isn’t a typical marker of EFAD and can reflect other factors, and hypertension isn’t a characteristic sign of essential fatty acid deficiency. In clinical contexts like long-term parenteral nutrition or fat absorption issues, watch for dry, scaly dermatitis and poor wound healing as clues to EFAD.