What Nutrients Should You Take Before Surgery?
by Alan Muir
Can taking certain nutrients speed healing? It takes a lot of energy for the body to heal from surgery, as the body repairs tissue on a cellular level. The majority of the healing occurs in the first few weeks after surgery, but can extend for years to come depending on the injury.
The healing process includes the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. The inflammatory phase (up to 5 days) involves the forming of localized blood clots to stop the bleeding, while macrophages and neutrophils are activated to fight infection around the injury. During the proliferative phase (2 days to 3 weeks), the body starts to build tissue and fibroblasts (collagen-forming cells) to improve skin healing. The remodeling phase (3 weeks and beyond) is when stronger collagen forms to rebuild the structure.
Specific vitamins and minerals can be taken to support these healing phases and improve surgery outcomes, but there are also certain nutrients that should not be taken. Both are outlined below.
Nutrients that can improve healing from surgery:
Calcium & Magnesium – Important minerals for bone health and biochemical reactions.
L-Arginine & L-Glutamine – Two amino acids that help repair tissue and support the immune response.
Vitamin A – To strengthen collagen, support immunity and sustain bone development.
Vitamin C – As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is essential to immunity and a necessary component of collagen.
Vitamin D – Improves bone development and the immune response.
Vitamin K – Essential to bone health and healthy blood clotting.
Zinc – Helps to regenerate and repair tissue.
Nutrients to avoid prior to surgery:
Certain nutrients shouldn’t be taken up to two weeks before surgery, because they increase bleeding that can cause serious complications, including Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, Omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, Vitamin E (Avoid consuming vitamin E supplements, but topical vitamin E is great for healing scars).
NUTRASCRIPTIVES RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Vitamin D3 5,000 IU (Also Available in 1,000 IU)
References
Alcantara-Martos, T, Delgado-Martinez, AD, Vega, MV, et al. Effect of vitamin C on fracture healing in elderly Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi rats. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2007 Mar; 89(3):402-407.
Angele, MK, Nitsch, SM, et al. L-Arginine: a unique amino acid for improving depressed wound immune function following hemorrhage. Eur Surg Res. 2002; 34(1-2):53-60.
Cranney, A, Horsley, T, O’Donnell, S, et al. Effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health. Evid Rep Technol Assess. 2007 Aug; 158:1-235.
Hara K, Akiyama Y. Vitamin K and bone quality. Clin Calcium. 2007; 17(11):1678-1684.
Lee YH, Lim YW, Ling PS, Tan YY, et al. Inadequate dietary calcium intake in elderly patients with hip fractures. Singapore Med J. 2007; 48(12):1117-1121.
Wischmeyer, PE. Clinical applications of L-glutamine: past, present, and future. Nutr Clin Pract. 2003 Oct; 18(5):377-385.
