Supplements for Surgery
Surgery has a major impact on your body and your mind. Even though surgery is done with the best of intentions and in a clean environment, your body needs to put out extra effort to mend from even minor surgery. The demands place a strain on your immune system in particular. While you're recuperating, you're more vulnerable than usual to:
wound infections,
chest infections,
skin breakdown,
urinary tract infections, and
other kinds of infections.
Because of the overuse of antibiotics, hospitals have produced what have been called ‘super bugs'. These make possible infections more dangerous. Providing your body with the nutrients it needs is vital both before and after surgery. "It gives your body the building blocks to fight off infection, replenish lost blood and mend tissues, all things that can help you heal as quickly as possible with the least pain and discomfort," explains Ray C. Wunderlich, Jr., M.D
Not all doctors have the same approach to nutritional therapy and surgery. If you are facing surgery and want to pay special attention to nutrients that might be helpful, you'll have to find a doctor who uses methods that you feel most comfortable with.
Here are a few key nutrients that are important for getting your body on the road to healing.
Vitamin C
Any kind of trauma, including surgery, can deplete your vitamin C stores. After surgery, blood levels of vitamin C drop rapidly and a vitamin C deficiency makes wounds heal slower. Many studies have shown that vitamin C is essential for the body to produce wound-healing collagen, which provides the basic structure for many tissues, including skin, bone and blood vessels. Vitamin C is also needed for the skin to produce elastin, a tissue that lets wounds stretch without breaking. Vitamin C also helps maintain a healthy immune system, vital for anyone who's undergoing surgery, so that they are able to mount a defence against the possibility of infection.
Some people experience diarrhea and other digestive discomforts from high levels of vitamin C. Buffered vitamin C and esterified vitamin C (a slow-release form) are easier on the stomach.
Vitamin C can interfere with the results of certain diagnostic blood and urine tests, however, so it's important that you discuss supplementation with your doctor.
Vitamin A
Retinol is the naturally occurring form of vitamin A. Vitamin A (as retinol) is found in the following foods: liver, fish-liver oil, cheese, butter. Beta-carotene (which is a carotenoid) is converted into vitamin A by our liver. It is found in brightly colored fruit and vegetables such as carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, spinach, kale and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin A is required for cell growth and differentiation, or the ability of a cell to mature into its final form. This is important for the generation of new tissues. Vitamin A also seems to activate the production of connective tissue, including collagen, and to promote the growth of new blood vessels. This is important for nourishing newly forming tissues.
Zinc
Medical research shows that for people who are low in zinc, supplements can dramatically speed up the healing of surgical incisions. In a study by researchers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, people taking 220 mg of zinc sulfate three times a day were completely healed in roughly 46 days, while a group taking no zinc required about 80 days to heal. Zinc, like vitamins A and C, is needed in the body for many functions. It is necessary for the production of collagen, the connective tissue that allows scars to form. It interacts with vitamin A, making the vitamin available for use and it plays a vital role in immune function.
Try to avoid drinking coffee and tea in the same meal as taking zinc as they can inhibit its metabolism.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps stop the process of atherosclerosis, or the 'build up' of fatty deposits in arteries. One study, by researchers at the University of Toronto, suggests that it can also help limit tissue damage during coronary bypass surgery. In this study, half of a group of people undergoing bypass surgery took vitamin E before their operations. The other half took placebos (blank pills). After the surgery, the people taking 300 IU of vitamin E for two weeks prior to surgery had "small but significant" improvement in heart function compared with the people taking the placebos. It is recommended that surgery patients be prescribed about 400 IU of vitamin E daily prior to surgery. Don't take more than 600 IU without your doctor's okay, especially if you've had a stroke or bleeding problems in the past. In large amounts, more than 800 IU, vitamin E can worsen bleeding problems and if you're taking anticoagulants, it's best not to take vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E itself acts as a natural anticoagulant.
When you're going into surgery, it's a good idea to be aware that all the nutritional therapy you are taking that might interfere with blood clotting, such as taking garlic for heart conditions. Garlic can cause bleeding problems, and it is recommended that garlic is stopped for a few weeks prior to surgery. Taking any kind of supplementation may interfere with the surgical procedure and recovery so to be safe, take supplements only under supervision of a health professional. A few weeks prior to surgery, you might want to discuss any supplements you've been taking with your doctor.
Getting the nutrition you need when you have surgery is important for your healing and overall health. Taking a quality, non-contaminated vitamin and mineral supplement will assist with your recovery.
References
Airola, P. 1984, How to get well. Health plus publishers.
Bland, J. 1996, Contemporary Nutrition. J & B Associates.
Davies, S. and A. Stewart., 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pan.
Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, The Ultimate Guide to Health from Nature. Asrolog Publication.
Jacka, J. 1997, A-Z of Natural Therapies. Lothian.
Sullivan, K. 2002, Vitamins and Minerals: A Practical Approach to a Health Diet and Safe Supplementation. Harper Collins.
Trattler, R. 1997, Better Health through Natural Healing. Thorson Publisher.
30.01.2008. 20:50
Would you suggest any nutrional supplement review sites so one can determine the best brand? The only site that I have found thus far is www.nutritionaltree.com
Thanks
Hi Luis Mac,
I haven't found any supplement review sites that don't have some commercial intent.
I have done my own review of the products that are available and openly recommend the ones that are availble through this site. I have found them to have excellent formulations, to use the highest quality, non-contaminated ingredients and to be reliable and efficient in their interactions and shipments. Total Balance supplements are, as they say, balanced and provide the total nutrients the body need to be healthy.
You can find more information about the supplements by following the links to the left of the page.
I hope this has been of assistance and all the best for your health improvement.
Kind regards
Dr Jenny
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