Amino acids in post-stroke rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biochemistry
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Stroke survivors often experience muscle hypercatabolism, leading to disability.
• Muscle wasting and amino acid deficits are common post-stroke complications.
• Understanding these metabolic changes is crucial for effective rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the benefits of amino acid supplementation in post-stroke rehabilitation.
• To analyze data on amino acid's role in mitigating muscle hypercatabolism.
• To assess the impact on functional and physical performance.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search on Medline and Embase databases (January 2019).
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case reports from the last 15 years.
• Focus on studies involving amino acid supplementation in stroke rehabilitation patients.

Main Results:

• Amino acid supplementation was shown to prevent muscle hypercatabolism in stroke patients.
• Supplementation suppressed myofibrillar protein and skeletal muscle degradation.
• Stroke patients receiving amino acids demonstrated improved functional and physical performance.

Conclusions:

• Amino acid supplementation counteracts muscle protein hypercatabolism and sequestration post-stroke.
• It addresses the resultant amino acid deficit, exhibiting an antiproteolytic effect.
• Supplementation prevents muscle wasting, enhancing rehabilitation by improving strength, mass, and function.