Management of Omega-3 Supplements Before Surgery

Omega-3 Supplements and Bleeding Risk

The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) consensus statement explicitly recommends that fish oil/omega-3 fatty acid preparations should be continued until surgery 1
Fish oil/omega-3 fatty acid supplements should be continued up to the day of surgery as they do not increase perioperative bleeding risk 1
Unlike many other supplements, omega-3 fatty acids can be safely continued through the perioperative period 1

Supplements that should be held for 2 weeks before surgery due to bleeding risk include: aloe, arnica, boldo, bromelain, cat's claw, danshen, devil's claw, dong quai, evodia, fenugreek, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng (American, Panax, and Siberian), guarana, horse chestnut, policosanol, resveratrol, saw palmetto, turmeric, vanadium, and vitamin E 1

Continuing omega-3 supplements may even be beneficial as they have anti-inflammatory properties that could potentially support recovery 2, 3
Some guidelines suggest that immune-modulating supplements including omega-3 fatty acids can be administered for five to seven days preoperatively in certain surgical populations 2, 3
In cancer patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, preoperative immune-modulating supplements (including omega-3 fatty acids) can reduce postoperative morbidity and length of stay 3