Omega-3 May Improve Short Gut Syndrome & Avoid TPN Feedings

For many adults, the complications associated with gastric cancer, or stomach cancer, often lead to major surgery and lifelong health complications. When resection of the gut is required, you can expect there will be significant changes to your health, especially in terms of diet and the way in which you manage your health associated with diet.

A complications commonly associated with a gut resection involves the development of a condition known as Short Gut syndrome. With Short Gut syndrome, you can expect the use of parental feeding will be required and, as a result, your limitations on food intake will be life long. Parental feeding, by way of TPN, is usually required in the first several weeks following surgery but can be weaned if proper nutrition is applied and your gastrointestinal system recovers properly.

In some hospital settings, following gut resection when Short Gut syndrome develops, patients are supplemented, in TPN feedings with omega-3 fatty acids by the infusion. While there are other nutrients provided through the infusion, such as zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium and dextrose with amino acids, the omega-3 fatty acid may provide the final key to balancing the flow of digestions so as to allow for oral food intake.

Because Short Gut syndrome often leads to loose stool and complications with diarrhea when oral digestion occurs, TPN is administered until oral food intake can be managed independently. Omega-3 fatty acids provide an immunity benefit to the body and, thereby, promote the proper flora within the GI tract, ultimately promoting natural digestion. If you are anticipating a gut resection surgery, or you have been diagnosed with Short Gut syndrome, it is important to discuss your nutritional needs with a healthcare professional. While this is generally protocol for this type of condition, many physicians fail to mention the use of Omega-3 as a possible supplement that will prevent TPN feedings.

As with any gastrointestinal complication, it is important to manage your health with not only traditional medicine but also natural or supplemental treatments. While Omega-3 provides many health benefits to the human body, for individuals with Short Gut syndrome, it may mean the difference between oral food intake and living with TPN feedings, or feedings by tube without options for dietary selection. In addition, because Short Gut syndrome leads to lifelong health complications, the management of these health complications is important to controlling the financial toll and burdens on the healthcare system that TPN feeding can bring about.