Nutritional supplement drink reduces inflammation and postoperative depression in patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery bypass grafting is a surgical treatment for ischemic heart disease. Although development in surgical technique and improvement of perioperative management reduced the postoperative complications, some patients still delayed in progress of postoperative rehabilitation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of daily intake of an herbal medicine-containing drink for rehabilitation after surgery in patients with ischemic heart disease.

AIM

To investigate the effect of taking an herbal medicine-containing, commercially available drink for postoperative rehabilitation in those patients.

METHODS

Patients who underwent isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery were divided into two groups depend on the timing of the admission to the hospital: the Yunker (YKR) group, that consumed one bottle of a caffeine-free nutritional supplement drink on a daily basis and the control group (CTL) that underwent regular rehabilitation.

RESULTS

A total of 229 patients (CTL = 130, YKR = 99) were enrolled. No significant differences were observed in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. The YKR group had a significantly increased number of daily steps postoperatively (P < 0.05) and had significantly lower postoperative serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (P < 0.01), while no significant differences were observed in the levels of other inflammatory or stress-related cytokines (interleukin-6, adiponectin, superoxide dismutase, and urine 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine) between the two groups. Also, the YKR group showed a significant improvement in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no differences in postoperative complications and the duration of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that the daily intake of an herbal medicine-containing drink after OPCAB surgery may have beneficial effects on cardiac rehabilitation by reducing inflammation markers and depression.

Key Words: Herbal medicine; Inflammation; Cardiac rehabilitation; Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity; Off-pump coronary artery bypass

Core Tip: Ischemic heart disease is still a major cause of death in the developed country. Cardiac rehabilitation for the patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery has known to be associated with early recover. Daily intake of an herbal medicine-containing drink after the surgery enhances the postoperative cardiac rehabilitation by reducing inflammation and improving depression.

INTRODUCTION

Ischemic heart disease is still a major cause of death in the developed country. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a surgical treatment for ischemic heart disease. Although postoperative complications are reduced with the technical development of the surgery, such as the off-pump technique[1,2], or with the improvement of perioperative management, variable amounts of physical and mental stress still occur after surgery. Postoperative rehabilitation following cardiac surgery is highly recommended since it increases motion tolerability[3,4], improves cardiac function[5,6], and reduces postoperative depression[7,8]. The recent guideline recommended the early induction of postoperative rehabilitation for the prevention of perioperative heart or respiratory failure, resulting in short hospital stay and early social recovery[9]. Despite the abovementioned recommendation, patients with low cardiac function, high age, frail, or complicated conditions often show delay. With the recent increase in the elderly population, the number of octogenarians who underwent CABG has also increased. These patients are potentially frail and exhibit systemic deterioration.

Consuming a commercially available nutritional supplement “energy” drink when a person experiences fatigue or develops illnesses such a cold is a widely accepted practice in the Japanese society. Some people habitually consume this type of drink as a treatment for chronic fatigue or to maintain motivation. Various kinds of nutritional supplement drinks are commercially available in Japan. Although, many of these products commonly contain multiple vitamins, caffeine, and sugar, only few contain herbal products, of which some have been known to reduce the physical and mental stresses. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of taking an herbal medicine-containing drink for postoperative rehabilitation in patients with ischemic heart disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Design and participants

Adult patients (≥ 20 years of age) who were scheduled for elective isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery at Juntendo University Hospital were enrolled consecutively in the study from January 2014 to December 2017. The patients were assigned to one of two groups as follows: Those enrolled from January to June 2014 and September 2016 to December 2017 were assigned to the control group (CTL), and those enrolled from June 2014 to September 2016 were assigned to the treatment group. Patients in the treatment group consumed 30-mL of a caffeine-free, herbal nutritional supplement from a commercially available bottle, (Yunker DCF, Sato Pharmacy. Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) every day after being granted permission to resume a liquid diet following surgery (YKR group). Patients with liver dysfunction (defined by tests exceeding the normal value in any of the following markers at the time of administration: alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, or γ-glutamyl transpeptidase), who underwent hemodialysis due to kidney dysfunction, or who experienced preoperative gait disturbance were excluded from the study. The contents of the drink are shown in Table 1. Patients in the CTL underwent the regular post-cardiac surgery course and did not consume the supplement drink. Both groups were treated according to our post-CABG clinical path. In addition, patients who received concomitant surgery due to the surgeon’s decision during surgery and those who experienced stroke (including transient ischemic attack) or infections such as pneumonia postoperatively were excluded from the study.

Table 1 Contents of the nutritional supplement drink (per 120 mL).

Contents
Agkistrodon meat and bones tincture	100 mg
Civet tincture	250 mg
Ginseng fluid extract	600 mg
Hawthorn flower extract	30 mg
Rehmannia root extract	120 mg
Royal jelly	100 mg
Vitamin B1 nitrate	10 mg
Vitamin B2 phosphate ester	5 mg
Vitamin B6	10 mg
Tocopherol acetate	10 mg
Nicotinamide	25 mg
Panthenol	10 mg
Chondroitin sulfate sodium	120 mg

Activity measurements

The primary endpoint of the study was whether the YKR enhanced the activity postoperatively. To evaluate perioperative activity, we used an accelerometer (Omron HJA-350IT, Kyoto, Japan). As indices of the activity, the number of daily steps, daily total activity [metabolic equivalent (MET) × hour], and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) were used. Total activity was determined by calculating the integrated METs per minute for 1 h (60 min), while MVPA was calculated using more than three METs of total activity.

The maximum value in each period (pre-/postoperative) was compared between the two groups. If preoperative or postoperative data were lacking, they were excluded from the activity analysis.

Laboratory measurements

Results of blood tests performed upon admission and on the 2^nd and 7^th postoperative day (2 POD and 7 POD, respectively) were used in this study. In addition, the levels of the following inflammatory cytokines were measured in serum and urine (SRL, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and compared between the two groups: interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), adiponectin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the ratio of urine 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and creatinine (8-OHdG/Cre).

Anxiety and depression scores

Before and on 7 POD, the levels of depression and anxiety were assessed. We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS). The HADS has two subscales: HADS_A, used to measure the level of anxiety; and HADS_D, used to measure the degree of depression. Each value and changes in intra-patient values were compared between the groups.

Statistical analysis

The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of data distribution, and further statistical analyses were subsequently performed. Patients’ baseline data were compared using the chi-square test and Student’s t-test. In the development data set, we formulated a predictive equation based on sex, age, body mass index, ischemic heart disease, treatment with cardiopulmonary bypass, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, preoperative hemodialysis, smoking (present/history), persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), serum brain natriuretic peptide level, New York Heart Association classification, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Multicollinearity among the variables in the predictive equation was considered. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 (SPSS, Tokyo, Japan). All data are expressed as mean ± SE. Statistical significance was set at a level of P < 0.05. The statistical methods of this study were reviewed by an expert Biostatistician Dr. Minematsu K.

RESULTS

Characteristic of the patients

Altogether, 280 patients were eligible to enroll in this study (Figure 1). Fifteen patients did not consent for enrollment and 10 were excluded preoperatively because of liver dysfunction. Thirteen patients who were initially eligible did not undergo isolated OPCAB surgery due to their physician’s decision, one withdrew from the study, and four other patients were excluded because they developed hemiplegia of the right hand, postoperative pneumonia, pneumothorax, or a drug allergy. Furthermore, eight patients were excluded for missing data. In total, 229 patients were analyzed; 130 were in the CTL group and 99 were in the YKR group. The characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 2. There were no differences in these indices between the two groups.

Figure 1 Flow diagram of the study. OPCAB: Off-pump coronary artery bypass.

Table 2 Patient characteristics.

	CTL	YKR	P value
Number of patients	130	99
Age, yr	69.4 ± 0.8	68.5 ± 1.0	0.437
Female (%)	20 (15.4)	12 (12.1)	0.481
BMI	24.5 ± 0.3	24.7 ± 0.3	0.644
Hypertension (%)	90 (69.2)	74 (74.7)	0.360
Diabetes mellitus (%)	70 (53.8)	49 (49.5)	0.407
Dyslipidemia (%)	94 (72.3)	75 (75.8)	0.791
Smoking history (%)	78 (60.0)	59 (59.6)	0.950
Preoperative AF (%)	4 (3.1)	1 (1.0)	0.261
NYHA	1.6 ± 0.1	1.7 ± 0.1	0.725
LAD, mm	37.3 ± 0.4	37.9 ± 0.5	0.316
LVDd, mm	47.8 ± 0.5	49.1 ± 0.7	0.131
LVDs, mm	32.0 ± 0.6	32.7 ± 0.8	0.537
IVST, mm	9.7 ± 0.1	9.9 ± 0.1	0.266
PWT, mm	9.8 ± 0.1	10.0 ± 0.1	0.195
LVEF, %	61.0 ± 0.8	60.0 ± 1.4	0.540
Operation time, min	253.6 ± 5.7	248.4 ± 6.8	0.555
Intubation time, h	6.7 ± 0.7	5.6 ± 0.4	0.176
Number of distal anastomosis	3.2 ± 0.1	3.2 ± 0.1	0.964
Right gastroepiploic artery graft (%)	66 (50.8)	52 (52.5)	0.793
Saphenous vein graft (%)	47 (36.2)	32 (32.3)	0.470
Blood transfusion (%)	23 (17.7)	19 (19.2)	0.662
Postoperative AF (%)	31 (23.8)	24 (24.2)	0.936
ICU stay, d	1.2 ± 0.0	1.2 ± 0.0	0.895
Hospital stay, d	10.1 ± 0.3	10.7 ± 0.4	0.187

AF: Atrial fibrillation; BMI: Body mass index; ICU: Intensive care unit; IVST: Interventricular septum thickness; LAD: Left atrium diameter; LVDd: Left ventricular diastolic diameter; LVDs: Left ventricular systolic diameter; LVEF: Left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA: New York Heart Association classification; PWT: Posterior wall thickness; CTL: Control group; YKR: Yunker group.

Activity

Figure 2 shows the number of preoperative and postoperative steps, activity, and MVPA, which were recorded using an accelerometer, in each group. The mean number of postoperative steps (Figure 2A) was increased in both groups, but only the increase in the YKR group was significant (preoperative vs postoperative: CTL, 2301 ± 253 steps vs 2787 ± 257 steps, P = 0.096; YKR: 2223 ± 225 steps vs 2943 ± 272 steps, P < 0.05).

Figure 2 Perioperative activity was assessed using an accelerometer. A: Daily steps increased significantly in Yunker group postoperatively (P < 0.05), while control group (CTL) did not reach statistical differences (P = 0.096); B: Total activity increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.01, respectively); C: Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) tended to decrease in both groups, although there were no significant differences; D: The ratio of the MVPA to the total activity was decreased in the CTL group. By contrast, it increased in the Yunker group, although no statistically significant differences were found in both groups. MET: Metabolic equivalent; MVPA: Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity; CTL: Control group; YKR: Yunker group.

The total activity (Figure 2B) significantly increased both in the CTL and YKR groups postoperatively (preoperative vs postoperative: CTL, 45.6 ± 1.9 METs∙h vs 55.1 ± 2.8 METs∙h, P < 0.01; YKR, 44.8 ± 2.6 METs∙h vs 56.6 ± 3.4 METs∙h, P < 0.01). The postoperative MVPA, an integrated activity of >3 METs, showed a nonsignificant decreasing trend in both groups (Figure 2C; preoperative vs postoperative: CTL, 0.76 METs∙h vs 0.61 METs∙h, P = 0.275; YKR, 0.83 METs∙h vs 0.79 METs∙h, P = 0.749). Despite the decreasing trend of the MVPA, the ratio of the MVPA to the total activity in the individual patients (Figure 2D) increased postoperatively in the YKR group. By contrast, it decreased in the CTL group, although no significant differences were found in the two groups (CTL, 0.084% ± 0.014% vs 0.055% ± 0.010%, P < 0.094; YKR, 0.081% ± 0.013% vs 0.091% ± 0.025%, P < 0.690).

Blood and urine test

The results of blood tests performed upon admission and on 2 POD and 7 POD are shown in Table 3. No significant differences were observed in the investigated indices between the groups at any period.

Table 3 Perioperative blood test results.

	Group	Pre	P value	2 POD	P value	7 POD	P value	7-2 POD	P value
WBC, × 109/L	CTL	6.1 ± 0.3	0.991	12 ± 0.3	0.962	7.6 ± 0.2	0.534	-4.4 ± 0.2	0.568
	YKR	6.1 ± 0.2		12 ± 0.4		7.8 ± 0.2		-4.2 ± 0.3
Hb, g/dL	CTL	13.3 ± 0.1	0.645	11.2 ± 0.1	0.876	11.7 ± 0.1	0.130	0.5 ± 0.1	0.027a
	YKR	13.4 ± 0.2		11.3 ± 0.1		11.5 ± 0.1		0.2 ± 0.1
Hct, %	CTL	39.2 ± 0.4	0.315	33.3 ± 0.3	0.854	34.6 ± 0.3	0.194	1.3 ± 0.2	0.053
	YKR	39.8 ± 0.5		33.4 ± 0.4		34.0 ± 0.4		0.6 ± 0.3
TP, g/dL	CTL	6.8 ± 0.0	0.616	5.7 ± 0.0	0.904	6.1 ± 0.1	0.789	0.4 ± 0.1	0.684
	YKR	6.8 ± 0.0		5.7 ± 0.1		6.2 ± 0.1		0.5 ± 0.0
Alb, g/dL	CTL	4.0 ± 0.0	0.482	3.5 ± 0.0	0.337	3.4 ± 0.0	0.385	-0.1 ± 0.0	0.821
	YKR	4.0 ± 0.0		3.5 ± 0.0		3.3 ± 0.0		-0.1 ± 0.0
ChE, IU/L	CTL	301.7 ± 6.9	0.953	176.3 ± 4.0	0.258	183.0 ± 4.0	0.227	6.7 ± 2.4	0.934
	YKR	302.3 ± 7.8		183.3 ± 4.7		190.5 ± 4.6		7.0 ± 2.3
CK, IU/L	CTL	101.3 ± 6.9	0.565	482.4 ± 22.7	0.443	67.8 ± 5.3	0.736	-391.7 ± 16.9	0.878
	YKR	95.3 ± 7.6		458.0 ± 19.8		70.2 ± 4.3		-387.8 ± 18.2
ALP, IU/L	CTL	217.2 ± 6.1	0.491	142.7 ± 3.1	0.734	201.4 ± 6.0	0.103	58.7 ± 5.3	0.097
	YKR	210.8 ± 6.9		141.0 ± 4.1		222.8 ± 13.0		81.9 ± 12.8
T-Bil, mg/dL	CTL	0.8 ± 0.1	0.194	1.2 ± 0.1	0.100	0.9 ± 0.0	0.580	-0.3 ± 0.1	0.123
	YKR	0.7 ± 0.0		1.0 ± 0.1		0.8 ± 0.1		-0.2 ± 0.0
AST, IU/L	CTL	21.8 ± 0.7	0.133	28.9 ± 0.9	0.748	20.1 ± 0.9	0.245	-8.8 ± 1.1	0.556
	YKR	23.6 ± 1.0		29.3 ± 1.0		21.6 ± 0.8		-7.9 ± 1.0
ALT, IU/L	CTL	21.4 ± 1.1	0.388	16.4 ± 1.0	0.543	20.3 ± 1.2	0.101	3.9 ± 1.3	0.244
	YKR	23.1 ± 1.6		17.4 ± 1.3		23.7 ± 1.7		6.2 ± 1.5
γGTP, IU/L	CTL	33.1 ± 2.0	0.352	24.3 ± 1.3	0.555	38.2 ± 3.2	0.540	14.0 ± 2.7	0.489
	YKR	36.0 ± 2.5		25.5 ± 1.6		41.4 ± 3.9		16.9 ± 3.2
BUN, mg/dL	CTL	16.8 ± 0.5	0.814	20.6 ± 0.5	0.667	17.7 ± 0.8	0.619	-2.9 ± 0.7	0.840
	YKR	16.6 ± 0.6		21.0 ± 0.7		18.3 ± 1.0		-2.7 ± 0.9
Cre, mg/dL	CTL	0.9 ± 0.0	0.606	1.0 ± 0.0	0.954	1.0 ± 0.1	0.828	0.0 ± 0.0	0.633
	YKR	0.9 ± 0.0		1.0 ± 0.0		0.9 ± 0.0		0.0 ± 0.0
eGFR	CTL	72.1 ± 1.9	0.219	68.0 ± 2.2	0.688	68.2 ± 2.0	0.816	0.2 ± 1.1	0.726
	YKR	68.7 ± 2.0		66.7 ± 2.3		67.5 ± 2.3		0.8 ± 1.3
Na, mmol/L	CTL	140.9 ± 0.2	0.752	140.9 ± 0.3	0.269	140.7 ± 0.2	0.604	-0.2 ± 0.3	0.101
	YKR	140.8 ± 0.3		140.4 ± 0.3		140.9 ± 0.3		0.5 ± 0.3
K, mmol/L	CTL	4.3 ± 0.0	0.768	4.1 ± 0.0	0.416	3.9 ± 0.0	0.792	-0.1 ± 0.3	0.360
	YKR	4.3 ± 0.0		4.1 ± 0.0		3.9 ± 0.0		0.2 ± 0.3
CRP, mg/dL	CTL	0.3 ± 0.1	0.407	15.7 ± 4.4	0.176	3.8 ± 2.4	0.586	-11.9 ± 4.0	0.233
	YKR	0.4 ± 0.1		14.9 ± 4.4		3.7 ± 1.8		-11.2 ± 4.1
BNP, pg/mL	CTL	90.4 ± 15.8	0.692	346.0 ± 30.1	0.554	264.0 ± 23.6	0.881	-72.0 ± 12.6	0.653
	YKR	99.0 ± 13.3		321.6 ± 24.5		258.6 ± 27.4		-63.0 ± 15.7

^aP < 0.05. Alb: Albumin; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; BNP: Brain natriuretic peptide; BUN: Blood urea nitrogen; ChE: Cholinesterase; CK: Creatine kinase; Cre: Creatinine; CRP: C-reactive protein; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate; γGTP: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; Hb: Hemoglobin: Hct: Hematocrit; K: Potassium; Na: Sodium; T-Bil: Total bilirubin; TP: Total protein; WBC: White blood cells; POD: Postoperative day; CTL: Control group; YKR: Yunker group.

Next, the levels of inflammatory or stress-related cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, adiponectin, and SOD, Figure 3A-D) and urinary stress hormones (8-OHDG/Cre ratio, Figure 3E) were measured on 2POD and 7POD. IL-6 Level significantly decreased in both groups (CTL: 81.5 ± 4.9 pg/mL to 21.5 ± 2.9 pg/mL, P < 0.01; YKR: 75.8 ± 7.2 pg/mL to 17.3 ± 2.7 pg/mL, P < 0.01, 2 POD to 7 POD, respectively). In addition, there were no significant differences between the two groups on 2 POD (P = 0.498) and on 7 POD (P = 0.301). A nonsignificant increasing trend was observed in TNF-α level in the CTL group, while a nonsignificant decreasing trend was observed in the YKR group (CTL: 3.2 ± 0.7 pg/mL to 5.0 ± 1.2 pg/mL, P = 0.686; YKR: 3.7 ± 0.9 pg/mL to 1.9 ± 0.2 pg/mL, P = 0.052, 2 POD to 7 POD, respectively). Notably, the TNF-α level in the YKR group was significantly lower than that in the CTL group (P < 0.01) on 7 POD, although no significant difference was observed on 2 POD (P = 0.623). Adiponectin level significantly increased in both groups (CTL: 6.8 ± 0.3 μg/mL to 8.5 ± 0.4 μg/mL, P < 0.01; YKR: 6.0 ± 0.3 μg/mL to 7.4 ± 0.4 μg/mL, P < 0.01, 2 POD to 7 POD, respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference between the two groups in each time point (P = 0.085 at 2 POD, P = 0.056 at 7 POD). SOD activity did not change significantly in the CTL and YKR groups (CTL: 3.1 ± 0.2 U vs 3.0 ± 0.2 U, P = 0.263; YKR: 2.9 ± 0.2 U vs 2.9 ± 0.2 U, P = 0925, 2 POD to 7 POD, respectively) and neither at each time point between the two groups (P = 0.392 at 2 POD; P = 0.831 at 7 POD). Urine 8-OHdG/Cre ratio significantly decreased in both groups (CTL: 11.5 ± 0.8 ng/mgCre to 9.4 ± 0.4 ng/mgCre, P < 0.01, YKR: 10.4 ± 0.7 ng/mgCre to 9.0 ± 0.4 ng/mgCre, P < 0.01, 2 POD to 7 POD, respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point (P = 0.349 at 2 POD, P = 0.986 at 7 POD).

Figure 3 The levels of cytokines in serum and urine are shown. A: Interleukin-6 decreased significantly at 7^th postoperative day in both groups (P < 0.01), although there were no differences between the two groups; B: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha level was significantly lower in the Yunker group (P < 0.05); C: Adiponectin increased significantly in both groups, while there were no differences between the groups; D: No significant differences were observed in the levels of superoxide dismutase in both groups; E The ratio of urine 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and creatinine decreased significantly in both groups, while there were no differences between the groups. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; 8-OHDG/Cre: 8-Hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and creatinine; CTL: Control group; YKR: Yunker group.

Depression and anxiety score

To assess anxiety and depression, the HADS and GDS were administered the patients were enrolled (preoperative) and on 7 POD. If the questionnaire was not completed, the sheet was considered as void and the answers were not included in the results. Finally, 144 of 229 (87 from the CTL group and 57 from the YKR group) HADS sheets and 151 of 229 (92 from the CTL group and 60 from the YKR group) GDS sheets were eligible for analyses. The HADS can assess both anxiety and depression. If each score was more than 11 points, the patients was considered “positive” for anxiety and depression. For GDS, a score of > 5 was considered as “positive” for anxiety and depression. The number of patients with positive anxiety and depression is shown in Table 4, while the actual points (Figure 4A-C) and changes in scores (Figure 4D) are shown in Figure 4. HADS_A (anxiety) significantly increased postoperatively in the CTL group (12.6 ± 0.2 points vs 13.4 ± 0.3 points, preoperative vs postoperative, P < 0.01). YKR also showed an increasing trend in HADS_A; however, the trend was not statistically significant (12.8 ± 0.3 points vs 13.3 ± 0.3 points, preoperative vs postoperative, P = 0.078; Figure 4A). In addition, as shown in Figure 4D, there was no significant difference in perioperative HADS_A between the two groups (0.8 vs 0.5, CTL vs YKR, respectively, P = 0.317).

Figure 4 Perioperative anxiety and depression levels were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score and Geriatric Depression Scale-15. A and B: The control group showed significant increase in anxiety scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (A) and depression scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (B) postoperatively (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), while Yunker (YKR) group showed no statistical differences; C: Geriatric Depression Scale-15 showed no significant differences between the groups; D: While comparing the changes in the scores pre- and postoperatively, the HADS_D score was significantly decreased in the YKR group (P < 0.05). HADS_A: Anxiety scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS_D: Depression scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; GDS: Geriatric Depression Scale-15; CTL: Control group; YKR: Yunker group.

Table 4 Number of positive patients in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 tests.

	Group	Pre (%)	Post (%)	Pre vs post	Improve	Worsen
HADS_A (≥ 11)	CTL	74 (85.1)	82 (94.3)	< 0.05	3 (3.4)	11 (12.6)
	YKR	50 (87.7)	50 (87.7)	1.00	4 (7.0)	4 (7.0)
HADS_D (≥ 11)	CTL	31 (35.6)	43 (49.4)	< 0.05	7 (8.0)	19 (21.8)
	YKR	29 (50.9)	23 (40.4)		14 (24.6)	9 (15.8)
GDS (≥ 5)	CTL	26 (28.3)	25 (27.2)		10 (10.9)	9 (9.8)
	YKR	14 (23.7)	12 (20.3)		6 (10.5)	3 (5.3)

GDS: Geriatric Depression Scale-15; HADS_A: Anxiety scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS_D: Depression scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; CTL: Control group; YKR: Yunker group.

Similarly, HADS_D (depression) significantly increased postoperatively in the CTL group (9.8 ± 0.3 points vs 10.3 ± 0.2 points, preoperative vs postoperative, P < 0.05, Figure 4B). In contrast, HADS_D decreased in the YKR group (10.5 ± 0.3 points vs 10.1 ± 0.3 points, preoperative vs postoperative, P = 0.192), and the change was statistically significant compared with that in the CTL group (Figure 4D, P = 0.018).

The GDS score in both groups showed a decreasing trend, although no significant difference was observed between the two groups (CTL: 3.0 ± 0.3 points vs 3.0 ± 0.3 points, preoperative vs postoperative, P = 0.849, YKR: 3.0 ± 0.3 points vs 3.0 ± 0.3 points, preoperative vs postoperative, P = 0.327). In addition, the change in HADS_D was not statistically different between the two groups (P = 0.588), although the YKR group seemed to show a more decreasing trend in score change.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we demonstrated that the daily intake of a nutritional supplement drink postoperatively has positive effects including enhancement of rehabilitation, reduction of inflammation, and improvement of anxiety score in patients who underwent OPCAB surgery.

Anxiety and depression after surgery

Previous studies revealed that 30%-50% of patients who experience coronary artery disease are likely to show depression[10]. In our experiment, 41.7% of the patients experienced depression (HADS_D positive) and 86.1% felt anxious (HADS_A positive) preoperatively. Unexpectedly, the number of patients who expressed anxiety and depression increased after rather than before surgery in the CTL group. As the mean length of postoperative hospital stay was around 10 days, many patients at 7 POD might feel anxiety concerning their lives after returning to home in a few days. By contrast, the number of patients who experienced depression (HADS_D) decreased in the YKR group, which suggests that consuming the drink may alleviate depressive moods. In fact, some of the contents of the drink (Table 1) are reported to improve stress and depression. Crude medicines, such as the extract from Ginseng roots or leaves, Rehmannia root, or royal jelly, have been widely used as herbal medications, especially in East Asian countries. Although the mechanism of the effect has not been fully elucidated, it has been demonstrated that the administration of ginseng saponin (ginsenoside Rb1) reduced stress and anxiety in both animal[11] and human models after a few days[12]. Catalpol, a major compound found in Rehmannia roots, showed antidepressant properties in rat models[13]. In addition, consuming Melbrosia, a mixture of royal jelly and bee pollen, improved depression and irritability scores in postmenopausal women[14]. These findings suggest that consuming these contents can improve the anxiety score, although it was difficult to specify which content was effective or if ingestion of multiple contents may enhance the effect. In addition, another study reported that women were more likely experience depression; however, our analysis did not show sex differences in preoperative depression or anxiety as well as in score change (data not shown).

Activity

We evaluated the patients’ level of physical activity using an accelerometer. The device used in this study can measure both the number of steps and activity. Recently, MVPA (3 > METs × hour) has been shown to be important[15-17].

In this study, the number of steps was significantly increased postoperatively in the YKR group, but no significant differences were found between the groups preoperatively and postoperatively. In addition, the postoperative total activity increased in both groups. By contrast, the MVPA decreased in the postoperative period in both groups, indicating that vigorous movement was limited postoperatively owing to the presence of pain, intravenous catheters, or drains. However, the ratio of the MVPA to the total activity was increased in the YKR group, despite that it was decreased in the CTL group, indicating that the YKR group had more vigorous and quantitative movements than the CTL group. These results indicate that the YKR group can perform more favorable postoperative rehabilitation.

Inflammation

Inflammation plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis against injury, which can be due to surgical stress. Especially for cardiac surgery, extracorporeal perfusion is one of the important factors that can enhance inflammation due to exposure to artificial materials and non-physiological blood flow to the organs. Excessive activation and prolongation of inflammation may cause organ dysfunction. The expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, is associated with postoperative complications[18,19]. Although the reports were controversial, the off-pump technique attenuates increase in inflammatory cytokine levels, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8[19-24], which may decrease the risk of renal dysfunction or surgical complications[25-28]. The levels of these inflammatory cytokines peaked during or within 48 h postoperatively in patients who underwent OPCAB, with an IL-6 Level of 35-400 pg/mL[25,26] and TNF-α level of 4-25 pg/mL[20,23,29].

In this study, we recruited patients who underwent OPCAB surgery, which was our standard procedure for isolated CABG cases (97.9% in last five years). We measured the cytokine levels on 2POD and 7POD; the average IL-6 level was 80 pg/mL, while the average TNF-α level was < 5 pg/mL. Compared with results of previous studies, our results exceeded the peak value. Under these conditions, the levels of one of the inflammatory markers, TNF-α, was significantly reduced in the YKR group (2 POD vs 7 POD), while they remained high in the CTL group. Some herbal medicines, contained in the drink, such as ginseng, Jiou, and royal jelly, have been reported to reduce the inflammation[12,30]. This result indicates that YKR prevents the prolongation of inflammation, although the level of other cytokines did not reach significance.

One of the most common complications after cardiac surgery is AF, which occurs in 20%-40% of patients postoperatively. The occurrence of AF has been shown to be associated with inflammation. In this study, despite the reduction in inflammation after consuming the supplement drink, no differences were observed in the occurrence of postoperative AF between the two groups. In addition, no differences were observed in the length of hospital stay and other postoperative complications. Importantly, results of perioperative blood tests suggest that the drink had no harmful effects on the kidney, liver, or other organs. In addition, a caffeine-free drink was used in this study since caffeine enhances sympathetic activity, which may increase the risk of arrhythmia.

Limitation

This study has some limitations. First, the drink contains several crude medications; hence, it is difficult to detect which contents contributed to the effect. Furthermore, since no placebo group was included in this study, it was unclear whether the behavior of “consuming a special drink” affected the results. Second, although the characteristics of the patients were not different between the groups, the social backgrounds of the patients varied. This difference may have an effect on a patient’s level of anxiety or may motivate them to discharge early from the hospital. Third, we did not assess the seasonal effect of taking these medications in these patients. Last, we did not assess the long-term effect of the medications in the patients.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that consuming commercially available nutritional supplement drinks after OPCAB surgery reduced inflammation and mental deterioration. This may be associated with enhancement of postoperative rehabilitation as well as improvement of outcome and postoperative quality of life. Consuming the drink may be a novel option as a supplemental medication for high-risk patients.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Some patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery still suffered from depression and prolongation of hospital stay after surgery, although postoperative complications are reduced with the technical development such as the off-pump technique. Recently, patients with low cardiac function, high age, frail, or complicated conditions who often delayed postoperative rehabilitation are increased. These patients are potentially frail and exhibit systemic deterioration.

Research motivation

Consuming nutritional supplement drink when a person experiences fatigue or develops illnesses such a cold is a widely accepted practice in our society. Various kinds of nutritional supplement drinks are commercially available in Japan. These drink should be safe and useful for these patients after surgery.

Research objectives

We aimed to investigate the effect of taking an herbal medicine-containing, commercially available drink for postoperative rehabilitation in those patients.

Research methods

Patients who underwent isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery were divided into two groups: (a) consumed one bottle of a caffeine-free nutritional supplement drink on a daily basis (YKR group), and (b) underwent regular rehabilitation (CTL group).

Research results

Although there were no differences in postoperative complications and the duration of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups, the YKR group had a significantly increased number of daily steps postoperatively (P < 0.05) and had significantly lower postoperative serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (P < 0.01), while no significant differences were observed in the levels of other inflammatory or stress-related cytokines (interleukin-6, adiponectin, superoxide dismutase, and urine 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine) between the two groups. Also, the YKR group showed a significant improvement in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (P < 0.05).

Research conclusions

The daily intake of an herbal medicine-containing drink after OPCAB surgery may have beneficial effects on cardiac rehabilitation by reducing inflammation markers and depression.

Research perspectives

The drink contains herbal medicine, vitamin and other materials. We should investigate what contain works the most effectively.