Supplementation with antioxidants and other nutrients may be beneficial to patients undergoing surgery. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, appearing in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2009; 49(5): 599-606) involved men having surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), in the knee. For the two weeks prior to the surgery the control group received a placebo and the test group took 500 mg of vitamin C and 200 IU of vitamin E twice each day. They continued to take the supplements for 12 weeks after the surgery. The group receiving the supplement had lower levels of a chemical marker indicating inflammation (IL-10, a proinflammatory cytokine). This may possibly mean that supplementation may lead to less inflammation and less muscle atrophy post-surgery.

Other research appearing in Medical Tribune (August 6, 1992;25) looked at 85 subjects undergoing abdominal surgery for malignancies in the upper GI tract. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group received a standard enteral diet; the other had the diet supplemented with arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA. Those receiving the supplementation left the hospital an average of four days earlier, had 70% fewer nosocomial infections and a lower incidence of pneumonia after the surgery.

In the journal, Heart, Lung and Circulation (2006; 15(3): 172-81) a study was performed comparing a group of patients receiving cardiac surgery in conjunction with supplementation, physical therapy and mental therapy to another group of surgery patients who received no such therapies. The nutritional therapy before the surgery consisted of 300 mg/day of CoQ10, 300 mg/day of alpha lipoic acid, 1200 mg/day of magnesium orotate and 3g/day of omega-3 fatty acids. They also did some stretching and light exercise as well as stress reduction and relaxation techniques. Questionnaires revealed that the overall quality of life was much higher than patients who did not receive the nutritional and other therapies. The researchers felt that such a program would improve post operative outcomes.

Research appearing the American Heart Journal (June 2003;145(6):1108-1113) found a connection between low serum magnesium and adverse events following cardiac surgery. Low serum magnesium was defined as being less than 1.8 mmol/l in any of the eight days prior to the surgery. Of 957 patients, 12.3% of the patients with low magnesium had an adverse event following surgery compared to only 9.2% of patients with normal magnesium levels. There was also double the incidence of Q-wave myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality rate as long as one year after surgery.

According to research appearing in the journal Surgery (1992;112:56-67), supplementation may improve surgical outcomes. A group of 85 patients receiving abdominal surgery were randomized to receive either the standard enteral diet or one that was supplemented with arginine (an amino acid), RNA and omega-3 fatty acids. Among those receiving the supplementation, there were fewer cases of pneumonia, a shorter hospitalization and improved immunologic function.