Q: My husband takes fish oil and Kyolic garlic daily for his health. In a few weeks, he is having minor surgery, removing a cyst from his head.
Should he simply cut down his dose on these supplements before the surgery, or stop them altogether? And how long before surgery should he do this?
A: One of the rules for pre surgery prep is to eliminate any supplements that may have a blood thinning effect. These include—as you mentioned—fish oil and aged garlic for starters, especially if taking them in high doses. It’s best to stop taking blood thinning supplements about 10 days to two weeks prior to surgery so any mild blood thinning effects can wear off.
Other supplements to discontinue before surgery are vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, ginger, flax oil, licorice, and milk thistle. It’s also best to stop St. John’s Wort, as it may interfere with anesthesia. Please also note any blood thinning medications like aspirin should be stopped, too.
A week or so after surgery—once the surgeon has given your husband the ‘all clear’—he can restart his supplements once more, gradually working up to his full dose.
Helpful supplements for healing post-surgery include vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, and systemic enzymes to help prevent scarring and adhesions. Take those for four to six weeks, then stop. Protein needs are higher after surgery too. Make sure your husband bumps up his intake of High Biological Value animal protein for the next several weeks to aid in healing.
A qualified nutritionist can advise on best practices and any caveats pre- and post-surgery.
To your health!
Leyla Muedin, MS, RD, CDN
