The Risks Of Taking Supplements Before Surgery
Previously, we’ve told you about the supplements that can help you recover much faster after surgery.
But there’s a catch. And it’s an important one: Give up your supplements in the days leading up to your surgery.
Err on the side of caution
You’ll find plenty of variations in guidelines for discontinuing supplements before surgery. A lot of doctors err on the side of caution. Others say it’s not a big deal unless you’re using high doses of supplements to begin with.
In either case, your surgery will probably go more smoothly if you stop taking these supplements at least a week or two before:
1. Fish oil
2. Flax & flax oil
3. Omega-3
4. Vitamin E
5. Nattokinase
6. Glucosamine
7. Chondroitin
8. Krill oil
9. Astaxanthin
10. Vitamin C
11. Most herbal supplements
The first eight items are on the list for the same reason: They all thin the blood. So even if you’re not taking high doses, you might be taking three or more of these at once, which could add up to bleeding problems.
Most recommendations include astaxanthin. I believe that’s because it’s a natural part of krill oil. But this powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory is one that you’ll definitely want to power up on again after surgery. It’s a remarkable nutrient and really does work wonders.
The same can be said of vitamin C. It’s not a blood thinner, but if you take more than a couple of grams per day (which is not out of the ordinary), it can interfere with anaesthesia. And you definitely don’t want that! So taper off on C the week before surgery.
The last item on the list – herbal supplements – covers a lot of ground. Most recommendations suggest you stop taking all herbs a couple of weeks before surgery. That’s because a lot of them aren’t fully understood by mainstream doctors.
And here’s a quick guide on how a few widely used herbs could affect surgery ?¦
* Bleeding effects: gingko biloba, garlic, ginseng, dong quai, feverfew, fish oils
* Drug interactions: echinacea, goldenseal, liquorice, St. John’s wort, kava, valerian root
* Cardiovascular effects: ephedra, garlic
* Anaesthetic effects: valerian root, St. John’s wort, kava
* Photosensitivity effects: St. John’s wort, dong quai
* Hypoglycaemia risk: ginseng
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Sources:
“Perioperative Risks and Benefits of Herbal Supplements in Aesthetic Surgery” Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Vol. 29, No. 2, March/April 2009
“Eating Walnuts Extends Longevity” Natural Medicine Journal, 9/4/13, naturalmedicinejournal.com
“Walnuts Protect Heart: Yale Study” Newsmax Health, 9/26/13, newsmaxhealth.com
