Omega-3 Supplements and Recovery After Gastric Cancer Surgery
This large analysis combined results from 32 randomized controlled trials involving over 2,400 people who had surgery for gastric (stomach) cancer. Researchers wanted to know whether giving patients omega-3 fatty acids—either through IV nutrition or oral supplements—around the time of surgery could support immune function and improve recovery.
Compared to patients who did not receive omega-3 supplementation, those who did showed a notably lower rate of infectious complications after surgery. The review used a statistical technique called trial sequential analysis to check whether this finding was likely to hold up with more data, adding extra confidence to the result.
Because this is a pooled analysis of many different trials, the individual studies varied in dosing, timing, and patient populations, which is typical for this kind of research and something the authors accounted for using subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
What this means for you
For people undergoing gastric cancer surgery, this research suggests that omega-3 supplementation around the time of the procedure may be linked to fewer infection-related complications during recovery. This is population-specific surgical research, not a general wellness claim, and any nutritional strategy around surgery should be discussed with a treating medical team.
Ready to start? The ALP Protocol delivers the EPA & DHA doses used in the research.
Start the ALP ProtocolThis summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.