Omega-3 Supplements: Excellent for Healing Intestinal Surgery Wounds

Omega-3 fatty acids facilitate the healing process and reduce inflammation of intestinal wounds following surgery. This was demonstrated in a study published in the Annali Italiani di Chirurgia by researchers from the Medical School of Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey. According to their results, the beneficial effect is even greater when Omega-3 is combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

High-Risk Intestinal Surgeries

Gastrointestinal anastomoses, surgical procedures that join two sections of the digestive tract, can sometimes suffer spontaneous wound reopening. This serious postoperative complication may be caused by various local and systemic factors and can even lead to patient death. Successful surgery requires preventing or reducing oxygen deficiency and inflammation at the anastomosis site, while promoting connective tissue rich in collagen within the wound.

Research shows that both Omega-3 and ascorbic acid play a role in healing damaged tissues. Vitamin C is involved in collagen fiber formation, giving scar tissue the tensile strength to stretch without tearing. The Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help wound healing by modulating inflammation levels in damaged tissue. For these reasons, the researchers investigated the efficacy of these molecules in promoting healing of intestinal anastomosis wounds.

Omega-3 Reduces Inflammation and Promotes Healing

The study involved 40 rats divided into 4 groups. The first group underwent anastomosis surgery without treatment. The second and third groups received surgery plus either ascorbic acid or Omega-3. The fourth group received both treatments after surgery. Five days post-operation, the animals were sacrificed for analysis. Healing was assessed by measuring the bursting pressure—the pressure required to rupture the anastomosis—and levels of hydroxyproline, an amino acid found in collagen. Both bursting pressure and hydroxyproline levels were significantly higher in animals treated with either ascorbic acid or Omega-3. Moreover, the combined treatment showed a greater positive effect than either treatment alone.

A Winning Combination Against Surgical Wounds

Taken alone or together, Omega-3 and ascorbic acid support healing of intestinal anastomosis wounds. Researchers suggest that the effects of the two molecules are additive, facilitating wound recovery.

Source

1. Ekçi B, Karabicak I, Atukeren P, Altinlio E, Tomaoglu K, Tasci I, “The effect of omega-3 fatty acid and ascorbic acid on healing of ischemic colon anastomoses”, Ann Ital Chir. 2011 Nov-Dec;82(6):475-9