Surgery recovery

Overview

SupplementDEX currently indexes Bcaas for surgery recovery. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below for the full rating.

Effect graph

Unlock now

Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)	★★★★★	Low

Unlock now

Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

1 supplement for rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)View supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceMediumTrustMedium

Evidence Review

A review of studies on people having liver cancer surgery shows that taking branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements—either by mouth or intravenously—can help patients leave the hospital about two days earlier.
However, these supplements do not reduce the risk of death or surgical complications.
Another study found that intravenous BCAA given right after liver surgery improved liver function tests and shortened ICU stays.
Other research supports that BCAA supplements can reduce infections and fluid buildup in the abdomen, help patients gain weight after surgery, and support liver recovery.
However, they do not appear to lower the chance of cancer returning or increase long-term survival.

Browse 2 studies1 meta-analysis

RCTProspective randomized, placebo-controlled study: role of branched-chain amino acids infusion as adjunct therapy post-liver surgery for patients in the intensive care unit2025

An ICU RCT in post-liver surgery patients found intravenous BCAA improved bilirubin, ALT, PT, and SOFA scores and shortened ICU stay versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Population: Pregnant women
Ages: 18–75

View on PubMed

MetaAre supplemental branched-chain amino acids beneficial during the oncological peri-operative period: a systematic review and meta-analysis2021n=389

A meta-analysis of 13 perioperative cancer RCTs (389 participants) found BCAA reduced postoperative infections 38%, ascites, body weight loss, and hospital length of stay.

Effect: Benefit
Population: Patients with cancer
Participants: 389

View on PubMed

Unlock now

Evidence visualised

Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.

Purchase-guidance distribution

How many supplements fall in each purchase band

Effect-size distribution

How large the reported benefits tend to be

Study distribution across 1 supplements for surgery recovery (2 studies total).
Supplement	DEX	Studies	Meta-analyses	Share
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)	★★★★★48%	2	1	100%

Unlock now

Overview

Effect graph

Relevant supplements

Studies

Evidence visualised

On this page