The role of omega-3 intake on traumatic brain injury recovery

Emobileclinic Researchers Corner 

Omega-3 also known as fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids important for normal metabolism. In addition to this, emerging facts from clinical experiences and some scientific findings have shown that Omega-3 has significant effect on the treatment of traumatic brain injury. This was discovered by researchers whose work was recently published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Clinicians have not been able to effectively find the best treatment strategy for concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study recommends that early and optimal doses of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) have the capacity to enhance outcomes from traumatic brain injury.

The article examines preclinical research and cites three brain injury case studies that resulted from a mining accident, a motor vehicle accident, and a drowning accident. Each instance revealed evidence of safety and tolerability, wherein the patients who sustained life-threatening brain injuries recovered brain health with the aid of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA). The growing clinical experience by several providers is that the brain needs to be filled with increase doses of n-3FA in order for the brain to have the chance to heal. In the absence or inadequate supply of omegas, healing may become a mirage. It is clearly known that n-3FAs are neither a drug nor a cure, but every situation is different.

It has however shown that clinically, some patients’ response to treatment is better than others. Thus, there is no disadvantage to providing most favorable levels of nutrition in order to give a patient the best treatment to regain as much function as possible after a traumatic brain injury.

Source

Micheal D. Lewis (2016): Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Innovative Use of Omega-3s, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, doi: 10.1080/07315724.2016.1150796