Why is protein intake important after surgery?

Surgery places increased demands on the body. This stress response leads to protein breakdown, or catabolism. Additionally, inactivity leads to loss of muscle tissue within 48 hours. This breakdown is higher in older adults.

Why protein matters

Protein intake is important for decreasing stress on the body, improving healing, and lowering muscle wasting. It is estimated that people undergoing surgery only consume about 22 to 36% of estimated requirements after surgery.

Protein supplementation can help lower the muscle breakdown that occurs from inactivity after surgery. Post-surgery supplementation with protein lowers protein breakdown by approximately 20%. Protein supplementation has also been shown to reduce length of stay in the hospital.

When should protein supplementation start?

Generally speaking, it is advised to begin protein supplementation 7-14 days prior to surgery. This provides a loading effect that can help prevent muscle breakdown after surgery.

How long should protein supplementation be used after surgery?

The answer likely varies by the type of surgery and overall health. Data suggests that the most important period is the first couple of weeks after surgery. However, some data shows that up to 3 months of supplementation can be beneficial.

Dr. Patrick Denard has been voted one of the top 20 Shoulder Surgeons in North America, and has been ranked in the top 1% of researchers for shoulder. Dr. Denard is committed to providing the highest level of orthopedic care to his patients, not only from a surgical standpoint, but also by considering the overall picture including avoidance of narcotics, and optimizing nutrition and rehabilitation.

References

1. Hirsch KR, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA. Pre- and Post-Surgical Nutrition for Preservation of Muscle Mass, Strength, and Functionality Following Orthopedic Surgery. Nutrients 2021;13.
2. Yeung SE, Hilkewich L, Gillis C, Heine JA, Fenton TR. Protein intakes are associated with reduced length of stay: a comparison between Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and conventional care after elective colorectal surgery. Am J Clin Nutr 2017;106:44-51.