Intake of a carbohydrate-containing fluid is reported to improve insulin-like growth factor levels , reduce hunger , nausea , and length of stay , and attenuate the decrease in whole-body insulin sensitivity and endogenous glucose release .
Amino acid supplementation is reported to reduce muscle atrophy and accelerate return of functional mobility .
There is limited evidence for nutritional supplementation in THR and TKR pathways ; however , the low risk profile and potential benefits to adjunctive treatment methods , such as exercise programs , suggest nutritional supplements may have a role .
Optimizing nutritional status pre-operatively may help manage the surgical stress response , with a particular benefit for undernourished , frail , or elderly individuals
Nutritional supplements can influence outcomes for individuals undergoing major surgery , particularly in older persons whose functional reserve is limited .
Accelerating recovery from total hip replacement ( THR ) and total knee replacement ( TKR ) may offer significant benefits .
Therefore , we explored the role of nutritional supplements in improving recovery following THR and TKR .
Preoperative oral carbohydrates and postoperative insulin resistance.
UNLABELLED Infusions of carbohydrates before surgery have been shown to reduce postoperative insulin resistance . Presently , we investigated the effects of a carbohydrate drink , given shortly before surgery , on postoperative insulin sensitivity . METHODS Insulin sensitivity and glucose turnover ( [ 6 , 6,(2)H(2)]-D-glucose ) were measured using hyper-insulinemic , normoglycemic clamps before and after elective surgery . Sixteen patients undergoing total hip replacement were r and omly assigned to preoperative oral carbohydrate administration ( CHO-H , n = 8) or the same amount of a placebo drink ( placebo , n = 8) before surgery . Insulin sensitivity was measured before and immediately after surgery . Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were studied before surgery and 24 h postoperatively ( CHO-C ( n = 7 ) , and fasted ( n = 7 ) , groups ) . The fasted group underwent surgery after an overnight fast . In both studies , the CHO groups received 800 ml of an isoosmolar carbohydrate rich beverage the evening before the operation ( 100 g carbohydrates ) , as well as another 400 ml ( 50 g carbohydrates ) 2 h before the initiation of anesthesia . RESULTS Immediately after surgery , insulin sensitivity was reduced 37 % in the placebo group ( P < 0.05 vs. preoperatively ) while no significant change was found in the CHO-H group ( -16 % , p = NS ) . During clamps performed 24h postoperatively , insulin sensitivity and whole-body glucose disposal was reduced in both groups , but the reduction was greater compared to that in the CHO-C group ( -49 + /- 6 % vs. -26 + /- 8 % , P > > 0.05 fasted vs. CHO-C ) . CONCLUSIONS Patients given a carbohydrate drink shortly before elective surgery displayed less reduced insulin sensitivity after surgery as compared to patients undergoing surgery after an overnight fast
Intake of a carbohydrate-containing fluid is reported to improve insulin-like growth factor levels , reduce hunger , nausea , and length of stay , and attenuate the decrease in whole-body insulin sensitivity and endogenous glucose release .
Amino acid supplementation is reported to reduce muscle atrophy and accelerate return of functional mobility .
There is limited evidence for nutritional supplementation in THR and TKR pathways ; however , the low risk profile and potential benefits to adjunctive treatment methods , such as exercise programs , suggest nutritional supplements may have a role .
Optimizing nutritional status pre-operatively may help manage the surgical stress response , with a particular benefit for undernourished , frail , or elderly individuals
Nutritional supplements can influence outcomes for individuals undergoing major surgery , particularly in older persons whose functional reserve is limited .
Accelerating recovery from total hip replacement ( THR ) and total knee replacement ( TKR ) may offer significant benefits .
Therefore , we explored the role of nutritional supplements in improving recovery following THR and TKR .