By the Thrive Protocol editorial team. Medically reviewed by Dr. Patrick Denard, orthopaedic surgeon, on October 19, 2026

Short answer: Protein is the supplement that matters most: 1.2 to 1.5 g per kg a day, or 84 to 105 g for a 70 kg (154 lb) adult (3). Hip trials of protein, vitamin D and amino acids with exercise found gains in some muscles but not the operated hip (5, 6). Test vitamin D before surgery. Skip routine iron, and don't count on collagen for bone.

This page is about supplements: what to buy, how much and when. For meals, the 90-degree kitchen, a sample day and a grocery list, see What to Eat After Hip Replacement Surgery.

Disclosure: this is Thrive Protocol's own site, and we sell some of the products named below. We grade each option on the published research, including ingredients we use.

Why hip replacement changes the supplement question

The new joint does not need feeding. The muscles around it do. In a CT study of 20 patients, two muscles that move the hip were still 7.0% and 8.4% smaller on the operated side two years after surgery (1). Inactivity adds to the loss: when 11 healthy adults averaging 67 years old spent 10 days in bed, knee extensor strength fell about 13%, even though they ate the recommended amount of protein (2). If you are older, your muscles also need more protein per meal to respond (4).

So the supplement plan after a hip replacement is mainly a muscle plan, with a vitamin D check for the bone your implant sits in.

What to take after hip replacement: the short list

Supplement Job after hip replacement How much When Evidence in hip patients
Protein (whey) Hold on to hip and thigh muscle Enough to total 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg a day; about 28 g per meal for 70 kg 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after in one trial Moderate (mixed results)
Leucine Boost muscle building after exercise 3 g a day With rehab sessions Limited (1 small hip amino acid trial)
Vitamin D Correct a low level for bone and muscle RDA 600 IU to age 70, 800 IU after Test before surgery Limited (test and correct)
Creatine Adjunct for regaining strength 5 g a day Later in recovery, especially if strength is slow to return Not proven in surgical studies
Collagen Bone and connective tissue 15 g a day for 14 days n/a Not supported for bone
Iron Rebuild blood Only if blood tests show a need As prescribed Not supported routinely

1. Protein: helpful, but not magic for the operated hip

How much: the PROT-AGE group recommends 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg a day for older adults with acute or chronic illness (3). For a 70 kg adult: 70 x 1.2 = 84 g and 70 x 1.5 = 105 g. Older men needed about 0.40 g/kg in one meal for a full muscle response (4), so 0.40 x 70 = 28 g per meal, three or four times a day.

What the hip trial found: in 58 frail women aged 65 to 80, protein and vitamin D supplements taken daily from 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after surgery, on top of exercise, improved knee extensor strength on both sides and hip abductor strength on the non-operated side compared with exercise alone. Hip abductor strength on the operated side, walking tests and quality of life did not differ (5).

The bigger picture: a 2025 meta-analysis of 19 studies (903 hip and knee replacement patients) found protein and amino acids reduced muscle loss, with mixed effects on strength (7). Protein supports the muscles you work in therapy. It does not replace the therapy.

Safety: people with severe kidney disease may need to limit protein (3).

2. Amino acids: take them after therapy

In 31 older women after hip replacement, 3.4 g of branched-chain amino acids taken right after each exercise session for one month improved knee extension strength and upper arm muscle size more than a starch placebo. Hip abductor strength on the operated leg did not improve (6). A 2018 review of 9 hip and knee replacement trials concluded amino acids were reported to reduce muscle loss and speed return of mobility, though the evidence base is limited (8). Practical takeaway: aim for about 3 g of leucine a day, and time your shake or amino acids for right after your exercises.

3. Vitamin D: check it, then correct it

Low vitamin D is common before hip replacement. In 60 US patients, 30% were below 20 ng/mL and 65% were below 30 ng/mL, and those under 30 had lower hip scores before and after surgery (9). But a 2026 review of 5 randomized trials (519 hip and knee replacement patients) found supplements raised blood levels without consistent benefits for function, pain or complications (10). The RDA is 600 IU a day up to age 70 and 800 IU from 71 (11). Ask for a blood test at your pre-op visit and let your doctor set any higher dose.

4. Creatine: an adjunct, not proven in surgery

Creatine has not been proven in surgical studies, and we found no hip replacement trial. In older adults doing resistance training, a meta-analysis of 22 trials (721 people) found creatine added about 1.4 kg of lean mass plus modest strength gains (15), so it can be a reasonable adjunct to rehab. The usual amount is 5 g a day. If you are later in your recovery and struggling with regaining strength, it is also worthwhile considering. Ask first if you have kidney disease.

5. Skip these unless your doctor says otherwise

  • Collagen for bone. In a 2026 randomized trial, 39 adults averaging 71 years took 15 g of collagen protein or placebo for 14 days after hip replacement. Bone turnover markers rose sharply in both groups, with no difference between them (12). Collagen still counts toward protein, but it is not a bone shortcut.
  • Routine iron. In 72 patients who were anemic after hip or knee replacement, 6 weeks of iron did not change hemoglobin recovery versus placebo (13). A second trial (99 completers) found only a small gain at 6 weeks that the authors judged questionable given side effects (14). Take iron when blood tests show a need.

Hip replacement supplement timeline

Phase Your hip Supplement focus
4 weeks before Pre-op visit, prehab exercises Vitamin D and iron blood tests. Start daily protein, as in the 58-woman trial. Hand your surgeon a supplement list.
Night before Fasting rules Follow your team's instructions. A review of hip and knee trials linked a carbohydrate drink before surgery with less hunger and nausea (8).
Days 1 to 14 Walker, hip precautions, low appetite Protein shake when meals fall short. Ask before restarting anything you paused.
Weeks 2 to 6 Walking program grows 3 to 4 protein servings a day, one right after your exercises.
Weeks 6 to 12 and beyond Strengthening the hip muscles Keep protein up. Creatine, 5 g a day, is worth considering if strength is slow to return.

Setting up supplements around hip precautions

If you have hip precautions, you will be told not to bend far at the waist for several weeks. That changes where your supplements live:

  • Move every bottle, packet and shaker to counter height or the top fridge shelf before surgery. Nothing on low shelves.
  • Keep a filled water bottle and a shaker on your walker tray so a protein drink is always within reach.
  • Use a weekly pill organizer at chest height, filled by a helper, so pain medicine days do not scramble your plan.
  • If you are 70 or older, ask a family member to check that shakes and meals actually get finished. A small appetite in the first weeks is easy to miss.

Individual supplements vs an all-in-one kit

Option What it covers after hip replacement What it leaves out Daily steps Price
Separate products (whey, amino acids, vitamin D, later creatine) Each item at a dose you choose Depends on what you buy 3 to 4 products Varies by brand
Surgical Protocol Kit OptiFuel packet: 25 g protein (whey plus hydrolyzed collagen), 3 g leucine, glutamine, 500 mg vitamin C, 800 IU vitamin D, plus magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, fish oil and turmeric extract. OptiCharge for the night before Creatine, iron, zinc 1 packet a day (28 a month) 4-week $299.99, 3-month $499.99, 6-month $669.99
Recovery Protocol Kit Same OptiFuel, no OptiCharge Creatine, iron, zinc 1 packet a day (28 a month) 4-week $289, 3-month $499, 6-month $669
Recovery and Strength Mix Per scoop: creatine 5 g, leucine 3 g, glutamine 2.5 g, arginine 2 g, isoleucine 1.75 g, valine 1.75 g Whole protein, vitamins 1 scoop $49.99

Creatine and arginine are only in the Recovery and Strength Mix. One OptiFuel packet supplies 800 IU of vitamin D, the full RDA for adults over 70, so tell your doctor before adding a separate vitamin D pill.

Supplement safety before hip replacement

  • Fish oil, curcumin or turmeric, ginkgo, garlic, vitamin E and similar supplements can affect bleeding (17). Your surgeon sets the stop dates before surgery. A large heart surgery trial found perioperative fish oil did not increase major bleeding (16), but follow your own team's list.
  • OptiFuel contains fish oil and turmeric. There is no need to stop OptiFuel before surgery, but your own surgeon's instructions always come first.
  • Some high-bioavailability curcumin products have been linked to liver injury (18).
  • If you go home on a blood thinner, ask before restarting any supplement.

Where to get it

  • Hip replacement scheduled: the Surgical Protocol Kit. Start 1 week before surgery. One OptiFuel packet a day, plus OptiCharge for the night before. 4-week $299.99, 3-month $499.99, 6-month $669.99.
  • Already home with your new hip: the Recovery Protocol Kit, the same daily OptiFuel. 4-week $289, 3-month $499, 6-month $669.
  • Strengthening phase: the Recovery and Strength Mix, $49.99, around your therapy sessions. Ideally, everyone on a kit also takes the Recovery and Strength Mix daily.

Thrive Protocol kits are HSA/FSA eligible, so you can use pre-tax health dollars. Check with your surgeon before starting, especially if you take a blood thinner.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Get the free Surgery Recovery Guide and hand a copy to whoever is helping at home.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best supplements after hip replacement?

Protein has the most support, mainly for keeping muscle, and amino acids taken after exercise showed gains in one hip trial. Vitamin D is worth testing and correcting. Iron and collagen are not routine add-ons.

What vitamins should I take after hip replacement?

No vitamin stack is proven. Get vitamin D and iron tested before surgery and correct what is low. Adults over 70 need 800 IU of vitamin D a day.

Should I take collagen after hip replacement?

Not for bone. A 2026 trial found 15 g a day for two weeks did not change bone markers. It can count toward protein, but whey or food protein is more complete.

Do I need iron after hip replacement?

Only if blood tests show you need it. Two trials found routine iron after joint replacement made little or no difference to hemoglobin recovery.

How long should I take protein supplements after hip replacement?

The hip trial ran from 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after surgery. You can keep a daily shake going through the strengthening months while your appetite recovers.

Related reading

References

  1. Rasch A, et al. Persisting muscle atrophy two years after replacement of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2009. PubMed 19407289
  2. Kortebein P, et al. Functional impact of 10 days of bed rest in healthy older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008. PubMed 18948558
  3. Bauer J, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people (PROT-AGE). J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013. PubMed 23867520
  4. Moore DR, et al. Protein ingestion to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis requires greater relative protein intakes in healthy older versus younger men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2015. PubMed 25056502
  5. Ninomiya K, et al. Effects of perioperative exercise therapy combined with nutritional supplementation on functional recovery after fast-track total hip arthroplasty. J Orthop Sci. 2023. PubMed 36272926
  6. Ikeda T, et al. Effect of exercise therapy combined with branched-chain amino acid supplementation on muscle strength in elderly women after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2019. PubMed 31826368
  7. Khani Y, et al. Peri-operative protein or amino acid supplementation for total joint arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025. PubMed 40317042
  8. Burgess LC, et al. What is the role of nutritional supplements in support of total hip replacement and total knee replacement surgeries? A systematic review. Nutrients. 2018. PubMed 29941852
  9. Lavernia CJ, et al. Vitamin D insufficiency in patients with THA: prevalence and effects on outcome. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014. PubMed 23868422
  10. Salmani A, et al. The impact of vitamin D supplementation on postoperative outcomes following total joint arthroplasty: a systematic review. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2026. PubMed 42775354
  11. Ross AC, et al. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011. PubMed 21118827
  12. Monsegue AP, et al. Collagen protein supplementation does not modulate biomarkers of bone metabolism following total hip arthroplasty: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2026. PubMed 41905472
  13. Sutton PM, et al. Treatment of anaemia after joint replacement: ferrous sulphate versus placebo. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004. PubMed 14765861
  14. Mundy GM, et al. The effect of iron supplementation on the level of haemoglobin after lower limb arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005. PubMed 15736746
  15. Chilibeck PD, et al. Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: a meta-analysis. Open Access J Sports Med. 2017. PubMed 29138605
  16. Akintoye E, et al. Fish oil and perioperative bleeding. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2018. PubMed 30571332
  17. Wang CZ, et al. Commonly used dietary supplements on coagulation function during surgery. Medicines (Basel). 2015. PubMed 26949700
  18. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Turmeric: usefulness and safety. nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric

This guide is for education and does not replace advice from your surgeon or care team. Product details checked against mythriveprotocol.com product pages on 18 October 2026.