The effect of polyphenols in post stroke adults: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

After a stroke, survivors are often left with significant disabilities and are at a greater risk of recurrent strokes. It is vital stroke survivors receive effective treatments to assist with rehabilitation and reduce risk factors for secondary stroke. Observational and preclinical studies have highlighted the promising role of polyphenols in these regards.

A systematic review of original research which assessed the role of polyphenols on health outcomes in post stroke adults was conducted. PROQUEST, SCOPUS (Elsevier), MEDLINE (EBSCO), Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to the 29th of October 2021.

A total of 9 studies met the full inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Several classes of polyphenols were assessed including hydroxybenzoic acids, stilbenes and flavonoids. Numerous health outcomes were assessed including vascular function, stroke disability, blood pressure, blood glucose and c-reactive protein. The majority of the studies included in this review (n = 8) note improvements in the polyphenol groups for at least one outcome measure. However, small sample sizes, short trial length and reporting bias prevent firm conclusions from being drawn.

This review provides promising preliminary evidence that polyphenols may be beneficial for post stroke adults, however, more research is required. To ensure reliable methodology and replication of results, future studies should include outcome statistics and effect sizes. Trials with a longer duration and large sample size should also be considered.