Mrs. Martian is having knee replacement in a couple of weeks and her surgeon is recommending the ENROUTE surgical nutrition program. The program consists of twice daily shakes to be consumed for the two weeks before and the two weeks after surgery. It’s $300 for the four week course. One side of my brain is saying that it’s at best woo and at worst a scam; the other side is saying that anything that might improve her recovery (she had the first knee replace ten years ago, there was no consideration of pre and post surgical nutrition, she had a rough go the first week post surgery) is worth a shot.
The program consists of four weeks of protein, creatine, calcium and vitamin D shakes (2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery) and special high-carb shakes to be taken the day before surgery.
Does anyone have any experience with this or similar products?
I haven’t done any research on ENROUTE but while their website has enthusiastic “patient testimonials” I cannot find any reference to peer reviewed studies in any nutritional science or post-operative care journals. So…not necessarily ‘woo’, but there is not indication that this is anything other than overpriced nutritional supplements. You can put together your own shakes with “protein, creatine, calcium and vitamin D” supplements for a fraction of that cost if you are so inclined, or just eat some bone broth, cheese, and enriched milk (plant milk if the patient is lactose intolerant) along with a diet of healthy whole foods and leafy greens.
I don’t have an answer, but looking at the website I am not sure what makes this better than just making your own protein shakes and supplement regimens at home. You can buy protein shakes at walmart for about $2 each and you can also buy Vitamin D, calcium and creatine there too. It would cost a lot less than $300.
One word of advice, when I’ve tried creatine in the past it makes me very irritable and gives me insomnia. I would check if this person can tolerate creatine before buying the shakes.
Just got back from Costco. Protein shakes <$1.50 each. More protein and calcium than ENROUTE, half the Vitamin D (but Mrs. Martian already takes a calcium/vitamin D supplement so gets plenty of vitamin D). $85 for four weeks supply.
$15 jar of creatine from Walgreens.
$13 for four bottles of Ensure pre-surgery drink (looks identical to the ENROUTE pre-surgery drink) from Amazon.
Do you know if they can drink a pre-surgery drink the morning of a surgery? I was told when I had surgery that I had to stop eating the night before so I wouldn’t have any stomach contents during surgery. I have no idea how it works for liquids though, that was just my experience.
Also its 1am, where’d you find a costco open that late? The ones near me all close around 8 EST.
Smart, to get your own stuff and make your own.
There are so many of these nutritional support programs.
Sure they’re probably healthy to drink.
I would bet my last $2 they don’t taste any better.
I drink 2 a day. It’s for the protein because I’m underweight.
If this is something the surgeon really feels necessary, ask them for a prescription for the protein shakes. Perhaps it can be covered by insurance? The website mentions that the supplier can setup an online shop to “add value to [the surgeon’s] practice with minimal effort.” In other words, the surgeon makes money by pushing this stuff.
The ENROUTE supplements are only available through surgeons, who are urged to “partner” with the company through an online shop. Online shops are the hallmark of dubious practitioners like “functional medicine” docs. Your physician should not be in the business of selling you supplements or meds.
The company website prominently displays testimonials. There is a listing of journal references in the docs only section, but the article titles are mostly about general nutrition needs in orthopedic patients and don’t specifically mention this product.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recognizes a need for good, balanced patient nutrition but doesn’t hype supplement shakes. The AAOS notes that obesity puts strain on new joints - how many calories are in these supplement shakes?
Good nutrition is important pre and post-surgery, but I’d be wary of this product. Other practices offer nutritional counseling without “partnering” with a supplement company.
The underlying science isn’t really controversial - operative outcomes are improved if a patient has good nutrition. The product itself hasn’t been validated or else they’d be promoting those studies before promoting studies showing that malnutrition is bad.
The question is why your surgeon is recommending it specifically for Mrs. Martian. Has she had a preoperative screening of the nutrition profile that this product is meant to address? Does she need more protein, calcium, or whatever else? Can those deficiencies be properly addressed by lean protein and simple (and much cheaper) pill supplements?
Not specifically for Mrs. Martian. Doc is part of a very large ortho practice, I suspect everyone gets the suggestion. Doc never mentioned it to her directly.
