Nutritional interventions to support acute mTBI recovery.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Nutritional Science
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) disrupts brain function, increasing metabolic demands and potentially impacting recovery.
• The role and safety of nutritional interventions during the acute phase of mTBI remain largely unexplored.
• Understanding nutritional needs post-mTBI is crucial for optimizing patient recovery.

Approach:

• A systematic review was conducted to identify nutritional interventions used in acute mTBI (<14 days).
• Searched major databases (CINAHL, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) for relevant studies.
• Included 11 full papers after rigorous screening of 4,848 identified studies.

Key Points:

• Adequate calorie and protein intake within 96 hours post-mTBI correlated with shorter hospital stays.
• Nutrient and non-nutrient support within 24-96 hours showed positive recovery outcomes.
• Specific interventions included omega-3 fatty acids (DHA/EPA), vitamin D, magnesium, N-acetyl cysteine, sodium lactate, and cerebrolysin.

Conclusions:

• Nutrition plays a beneficial role in acute mTBI recovery.
• Certain nutritional therapies, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, show potential for supporting brain recovery.
• Further research is needed due to study heterogeneity to establish definitive recommendations.