Can A Protein Free Diet Reduce Surgical Complications?
- By Mark Benson
- Published 01/28/2012
- Food and Drink
- Unrated
While it is common knowledge that those about to undergo surgery are advised not to eat or drink the night before their operation there is startling new evidence to suggest that what you eat and what you drink weeks before surgery could impact upon your well-being. A report in the journal Science Translational Medicine suggests that a protein free diet ahead of any surgery could reduce complications such as heart attacks and strokes in humans.
What is the basis for this suggestion?
The basis for this comment relates to research on two groups of mice, one of which was allowed to eat as normal two weeks ahead of a surgical operation and the other which was put on a protein free diet. The specific operations carried out on all of the mice were designed to place pressure on their kidneys and livers and the results were startling.
Around 40% of the mice who were allowed to eat a normal diet ahead of the surgery actually died while all of the mice who were force-fed the protein free diet ahead of surgery survived without any complications. There is every suggestion that this particular situation will be reflected in human patients although there is a need for further scientific research which should be carried out over the next couple of years.
Why are there complications after surgery?
There is no doubt that well-known complications do occur after any type of surgery and the vast majority of these complications are based upon the stress and pressure placed on the body. If scientists and doctors can find a way of reducing the stress and pressure ahead of any operation then this will potentially have a massive impa
ct upon future issues.
When you take into account the fact that some people will suffer from these complications for years to come, after their surgery, the ability to reduce the likelihood of future complications would be a major step forward.
Human research set to begin
The scientists who carried out the research into the impact of protein free diets on the mice facing surgery are now looking towards extending this program and potentially signing up human guinea pigs. This is not the first time that diets have been directly associated with stress levels ahead of surgical procedures but it is the specific non-protein diet advice which is new and potentially groundbreaking.
There were some notes of caution from the scientists involved because the human body is far more complex than the body of a mouse but there are also great similarities. It will be interesting to see how the regulatory authorities respond to this particular report because if it is found to be true then we could be on the verge of reducing potential complications associated with everyday surgery.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that what you eat and what you drink can affect your overall health but can also affect the body's ability to handle stress. By effectively priming your body for a potentially stressful situation, via the protein free diet, it seems as though it is possible to reduce and possibly negate any potential complications associated with surgery.
There is no doubt that the side-effects of some everyday surgical procedures can and do have a major impact upon the future life of the patients involved. Whether tailoring your eating habits prior to surgery can reduce the severity of any potential complications is a very interesting notion.
What is the basis for this suggestion?
The basis for this comment relates to research on two groups of mice, one of which was allowed to eat as normal two weeks ahead of a surgical operation and the other which was put on a protein free diet. The specific operations carried out on all of the mice were designed to place pressure on their kidneys and livers and the results were startling.
Around 40% of the mice who were allowed to eat a normal diet ahead of the surgery actually died while all of the mice who were force-fed the protein free diet ahead of surgery survived without any complications. There is every suggestion that this particular situation will be reflected in human patients although there is a need for further scientific research which should be carried out over the next couple of years.
Why are there complications after surgery?
There is no doubt that well-known complications do occur after any type of surgery and the vast majority of these complications are based upon the stress and pressure placed on the body. If scientists and doctors can find a way of reducing the stress and pressure ahead of any operation then this will potentially have a massive impa
When you take into account the fact that some people will suffer from these complications for years to come, after their surgery, the ability to reduce the likelihood of future complications would be a major step forward.
Human research set to begin
The scientists who carried out the research into the impact of protein free diets on the mice facing surgery are now looking towards extending this program and potentially signing up human guinea pigs. This is not the first time that diets have been directly associated with stress levels ahead of surgical procedures but it is the specific non-protein diet advice which is new and potentially groundbreaking.
There were some notes of caution from the scientists involved because the human body is far more complex than the body of a mouse but there are also great similarities. It will be interesting to see how the regulatory authorities respond to this particular report because if it is found to be true then we could be on the verge of reducing potential complications associated with everyday surgery.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that what you eat and what you drink can affect your overall health but can also affect the body's ability to handle stress. By effectively priming your body for a potentially stressful situation, via the protein free diet, it seems as though it is possible to reduce and possibly negate any potential complications associated with surgery.
There is no doubt that the side-effects of some everyday surgical procedures can and do have a major impact upon the future life of the patients involved. Whether tailoring your eating habits prior to surgery can reduce the severity of any potential complications is a very interesting notion.
Mark Benson
Mark Benson is the author of a number of articles on the Wedding Diets website covering various subjects such as a Does The Tesco Diet Work.
View all articles by Mark Benson