Omega-3 oils, which are available in plants and fish and as supplements, are fatty acids (molecules found in plants, animals and cell membranes). They reduce cholesterol and help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. Because they act as blood thinners, however, and have other potential side effects, patients may be advised by their physicians to avoid omega-3 well surgery or other invasive medical procedures.
Characteristics
Omega-3 fatty acids -- which are found in some plant sources, such as flax, linseed and nuts (especially Brazil nuts), as well as fish or fish oil supplements -- lower triglycerides, thus reducing the risk of heart attacks, heart arrhythmias, plaques on the arteries of the heart (which cause hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis) and other forms of heart disease and strokes. It also slows the buildup of plaques in the arteries and lowers blood pressure slightly. Heart and kidney transplant patients can also benefit from taking fish oil supplements. In addition, when taken regularly over several months, fish oil, which is also used as an industrial lubricant, can reduce morning stiffness and joint tenderness caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
Side Effects
Because they are blood thinners, high doses of omega-3 can hinder blood clotting and cause or worsen bleeding when taken in high doses. This can cause serious post-surgical bleeding or lead to hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke, nosebleeds and blood in the urine. Fish oil may also slightly increase low-density lipoprotein (the "bad" form of cholesterol) and has also been known to cause stomach upset, diarrhea and burping, acid reflux and heartburn, indigestion and abdominal bloating. People with allergies or other sensitivity to fish should avoid fish oil or omega-3 supplements, as should those who have high levels of low-density lipoprotein or low blood pressure. In addition, because fish often absorb significant levels of mercury from polluted waters, young children and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should limit their intake to one or two 6-ounce servings per week. Some fish oil sources, especially those produced from fish livers, may contain high levels of vitamins D and A. These types of oil can increase risk of vitamin A and D toxicity, as can oils drawn from fish liver, and may also deplete or inhibit the effectiveness of vitamin E, which supports the body's immune system. Many of these side effects can compromise the health and recovery of surgery patients.
Recommendations
Physicians and the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recommend that anyone who eats foods or supplements containing significant amounts of omega-3 refrain from doing so for a week before undergoing medical procedures, with the exception of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. A study published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids indicated that eating fish oil shortly before this type of surgery is conducted may reduce patients' risk of developing postoperative myocardial damage.
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