Selected Nutrients to Oppose Muscle Disuse Following Arthroscopic Orthopedic Surgery: A Narrative Review

Background: Orthopedic surgery and the corresponding events (i.e., immobilization and muscle disuse) result in a cascade of biological events to promote healing but can come with the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. A good nutritional status of patients is associated with positive post-surgical outcomes, with macronutrients receiving the majority of emphasis in the research literature. However, beyond the surgical literature, there are other nutrients and nutritional supplements that have been established or postulated to improve skeletal muscle mass and strength. Objective: The purpose of this narrative review is to provide evidence for the utility of using creatine, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, essential amino acids-branched chain amino acids (EAA-BCAA) and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation and the role they may play in minimizing muscle atrophy and strength loss following orthopedic surgery. The review will also highlight areas of future research to support a better understanding of the efficacy of supplementing with these substances pre- and/or post-surgery.