The science behind carbohydrate loading.
Why complex carbohydrates before surgery help patients recover — and how PREPARE is formulated to deliver them.
Nutrition Facts
Ingredients: Maltodextrin, citric acid, natural flavour, sodium chloride, stevia.
Protein, gluten, lactose and fiber-free. No sugar added.
Contains complex carbohydrates derived from corn.
PREPARE is a "medical food" in the United States, and "food for special dietary use" in Canada.
Contact usWhat is Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®)*?
- ERAS®* is a quality improvement initiative to improve surgical outcomes.
- ERAS®* is quickly becoming the new standard of surgical care across the world, as it improves patient outcomes & decreases hospital costs.
- Carbohydrate loading is an important component of ERAS®*.
Carbohydrate loading in surgery is defined as consuming at least 50 grams of complex carbohydrates in 400 mL of water, up to 2 hours before anesthesia.2
PREPARE is Formulated Based on Science
Research shows that carbohydrate loading using complex carbohydrates can help to improve surgical outcomes
- Insulin resistance1
- Length of hospital stay2,3
- Nausea & vomiting4
- Nitrogen & protein loss5,6
- Patient well-being4,7–9
- Lean body mass10
- Muscle strength11,12
Carbohydrate Loading is an Evidence-Based Alternative to Preoperative Fasting
Avoidance of preoperative fasting is recommended in the following procedures**
PREPARE is a Complex Carbohydrate Drink
PREPARE contains maltodextrin, which is a complex carbohydrate.
Complex carbohydrates produce more than half the insulin response than simple carbohydrates like juice and sports drinks.
PREPARE is a Clear Fluid
Anesthesiologist Society Guidelines recommend clear fluids be consumed up to 2 hours before elective surgery.
PREPARE can help improve Perioperative Insulin Sensitivity
A complex carbohydrate drink taken 2-3 hours before surgery is a safe and effective alternative to fasting (NPO*).
Complex carbohydrates keep the body in a fed state before surgery and can minimize the stress response (insulin resistance) produced by surgery.
*NPO = nothing by mouth.
Reduced Length of Stay in Major Hepatectomy Surgery After Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery Pathway in the United States Veteran Population
Virginia Commonwealth University (Nguyen et al., 2020)
Read moreLiquid Gastric Emptying
ENROUTE® Prepare has been validated and tested by gastric emptying scintigraphy (the gold standard for measuring gastric emptying rate, seen in this video) meaning that it reliably empties from the stomach in less than 2 hours in individuals who do not have delayed gastric emptying (ex. gastroparesis, use of GLP-1 receptor agonists).
References +
- Nygren J, et al. Preoperative oral carbohydrate administration reduces postoperative insulin resistance. Clin Nutr. 1998;17(2):65–71.
- ERAS Compliance Group. The impact of enhanced recovery protocol compliance on elective colorectal cancer resection: results from an international registry. Ann Surg. 2015;261(6):1153–1159.
- Nygren J, et al. Preoperative oral carbohydrate nutrition: an update. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2001;4(4):255–259.
- Hausel J, et al. Randomized clinical trial of the effects of oral preoperative carbohydrates on postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Br J Surg. 2005;92(4):415–21.
- Crowe PJ, et al. The effect of preoperative glucose loading on postoperative nitrogen metabolism. Br J Surg. 1984;71(8):635–637.
- Svanfeldt M, et al. Randomized clinical trial of the effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate treatment on postoperative whole-body protein and glucose kinetics. Br J Surg. 2007;94(11):1342–1350.
- Brady M, et al. Preoperative fasting for adults to prevent perioperative complications. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev 2003;4:CD004423.
- Hausel J, et al. A carbohydrate-rich drink reduces preoperative discomfort in elective surgery patients. Anesth & Anal. 2001;93(5):1344–1350.
- Ljungqvist O, et al. Enhanced recovery after surgery: a review. JAMA Surg. 2017;152(3):292–298.
- Yuill KA, et al. The administration of an oral carbohydrate-containing fluid prior to major elective upper gastrointestinal surgery preserves skeletal muscle mass postoperatively—a randomized clinical trial. Clin Nutr. 2005;24(1):32–37.
- Henriksen MG, et al. Effects of preoperative oral carbohydrates and peptides on postoperative endocrine response, mobilization, nutrition and muscle function in abdominal surgery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2003;47(2):191–199.
- Noblett SE, et al. Pre-operative oral carbohydrate loading in colorectal surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Colorectal Dis 2006;8(7):563–569.