MS-N151 · Nutrition · Rehabilitation · Gastrointestinal cancer · Randomized trial · Appraised 27 October 2026
Does a branched-chain amino acid–enriched jelly taken after perioperative exercise improve muscle or walking after gastric or colorectal cancer surgery?
Evidence at a glance
- Evidence label: No demonstrated added benefit
- Benefit: The supplement did not significantly improve thigh muscle area, strength or six-minute walk distance versus amino-acid-free jelly.
- Certainty: Low to moderate for this exact short-term regimen; one small single-center trial with 49 analyzed participants.
- Risk: Generally tolerable in the study, but concentrated amino acids may be inappropriate with some kidney, liver or metabolic conditions.
What was studied
Fifty people scheduled for gastric or colorectal cancer surgery were randomized, with both groups receiving perioperative exercise. The test group took BCAA-enriched jelly immediately after exercise and the control group amino-acid-free jelly. Forty-nine participants were analyzed through nine weeks after discharge.
What the evidence found
Quadriceps-area change from baseline to nine weeks after discharge was 3.24% in the BCAA group and 2.34% in controls, without a significant difference. Hamstring area, knee strength and six-minute walk distance also did not differ.
How to interpret it
Recovery within both groups does not prove the supplement caused recovery because both groups exercised and received a jelly. The trial addresses muscle and function, not surgical recurrence, tumor response or survival.
Practical safety context
Postoperative intake should follow the surgical and nutrition team’s plan. Kidney dysfunction, hepatic encephalopathy risk, swallowing difficulty and intolerance to the product ingredients warrant review.
Questions for the care team
- Is protein or calorie intake actually inadequate?
- Would ordinary food or a complete oral nutrition supplement better address the gap?
- What rehabilitation outcome will be measured beyond body weight?
Funding and conflicts
The authors declared no conflicts of interest; funding details were not verified beyond the full-text report. Published October 2, 2026.
Sources
Last literature search: 27 October 2026. Record appraisal: 27 October 2026. This page is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice. Symptom, biomarker, immune-marker or nutritional changes must not be interpreted as proof of tumor control, recurrence prevention or longer survival unless those outcomes were directly tested.
