Therapeutic Potential of Nutritional Modulators in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of mortality and longterm disability worldwide, presenting a critical challenge to clinical management and public health. It triggers a cascade of complex biochemical events, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, that worsen neurological and cognitive deficits over time. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on how nutritional interventions, particularly vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics, may mitigate these pathological processes and support brain recovery.

Literature was systematically searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, the National Institutes of Health, and The Nutrition Source. Studies included preclinical and clinical research on TBI interventions involving vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, and the study selection process is illustrated in Fig. (1), which outlines the identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion phases.

These nutritional supplements demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, supporting synaptic plasticity, gut-brain axis integrity, and neuronal repair.

This review systematically evaluates the role of vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics in the management of TBI, focusing on both clinical and preclinical findings to assess their therapeutic potential, particularly in relation to secondary injury mechanisms for which current treatments are limited.

Robust preclinical data support the neurotherapeutic potential of these supplements; however, clinical validation is still in development. Future studies should prioritize standardized dosing, optimal timing of administration, and strain-specific probiotic evaluation to ensure the effective integration of probiotics into TBI management.