Protein-free diet before surgery may prevent reperfusion injury.

The Washington Post (1/26, Brown) reports a rat study in Science Translational Medicine showing that certain dietary restrictions before surgery may be beneficial. The study showed that "removing protein from [the rats'] diet for about a week dramatically protected rats from damage to kidneys and livers when blood flow was temporarily cut off from those organs," which is similar "to what...can happen to organs during long and complicated operations." The Post explains that the protein-free "diet appears to protect against 'reperfusion­injury.'" In addition, giving rats halo­fuginone, which "mimics deprivation of proline, an amino acid essential during times of illness or stress" also protected rats from organ damage. Researchers "are now making plans for a study in which some patients would have a three-day 'juice-only fast' before surgery."