Omega-3s Cut Post-Surgical Infections by 58% in Gastric Cancer Patients, Helping Patients Heal Faster

Published on December 2, 2025

New meta-analysis of 32 clinical trials finds omega-3 fatty acids reduce post-surgical infections and strengthen immune function

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Vitamin D isn’t the only nutrient that has been shown to reduce infections and improve post-surgery outcomes.  Omega-3 fatty acids also play a powerful role in healing, with new findings showing better recovery after gastric (stomach) cancer surgery, according to a new comprehensive review published in BMC Cancer (2025) by Yue et al.

The study pooled data from 32 randomized controlled trials involving 2,404 patients, making it the largest and most robust meta-analysis to date on omega-3s and gastric cancer surgery outcomes. The researchers found consistent evidence that omega-3 supplementation improves immune function and reduces complications in surgical patients.

Omega-3s and Post-Surgical Infections: A Strong Protective Effect

Surgery for gastric cancer often triggers inflammation, immune suppression, and infection risk. The meta-analysis revealed that omega-3 supplementation cut the rate of postoperative infections by more than half (RR = 0.42).

These protective effects were seen whether omega-3s were given through IV or oral feeding. The review’s trial-sequential analysis confirmed that this finding was statistically robust, ruling out false positives and emphasizing omega-3’s reliable benefit for surgical recovery.

Enhanced Immunity: Omega-3s Strengthen the Body’s Defense System

Beyond reducing infection, omega-3 fatty acids were found to enhance immune recovery by increasing levels of CD4+ T cells, key immune cells that help coordinate the body’s defense response.

Patients who received omega-3s also showed a higher CD4/CD8 ratio, suggesting better-balanced immune regulation during the stress of surgery and healing. These findings support omega-3s’ anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, helping the body recover from both cancer and surgery-related stress.

Faster Recovery and Shorter Hospital Stay

Patients who received omega-3 supplementation had shorter hospital stays, averaging about 1.3 fewer days than those receiving standard nutrition. While this outcome had slightly lower certainty due to study variability, the overall pattern was consistent: omega-3s support faster recovery and fewer complications.

Best Practices and Future Directions

The benefits of omega-3s were most evident when supplementation started preoperatively or immediately postoperatively and continued for 7–10 days. Longer interventions (>10 days) showed diminishing returns, possibly because patients needing extended nutrition were already more ill or had complications.

The authors note that omega-3s appear safe and well-tolerated, though monitoring is advised for those with bleeding risks or other post-surgical sensitivities. Future research should examine how omega-3s might affect long-term outcomes such as cancer recurrence, survival, and interactions with the gut microbiome, which also plays a key role in immunity.

Omega-3s aren’t just good for your heart—they appear to also be an important ally in surgical recovery and immune resilience, especially for those facing major procedures like gastric cancer surgery.

If you’re planning or recovering from surgery, or simply want to support your body’s natural healing processes, talk with your healthcare provider about omega-3 testing and supplementation as part of a comprehensive nutrition plan.  Measure your Omega-3 Index as an indicator of your omega-3 status through GrassrootsHealth, and use our calculator to determine a dose that is correct for you.

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