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Saturday, November 24, 2018

A Few Of The Vitamins For Concussion Recovery You May Consider

By Thomas Russell


A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury. Common causes include car crashes, falls from heights, assault and sporting related activities. Most persons that sustain this form of injury end up losing consciousness transiently. Long-term effects may include poor concentration, loss of balance and inco-ordination as well as memory lapses. Treatment is primarily conservative and recovery takes months or even years. There a number of nutrients and vitamins for concussion recovery that one may consider if they suffer the injury.

Proteins are vital to the healing process of any tissue after damage. Protein supplements should be initiated within a day of sustaining the injury. The recommended dose is a kilogram of protein for every kilogram of body weight. This can be reduced gradually as one recovers. Steak and eggs are the best option for protein support but the vomiting associated with the condition may make it difficult to use these sources. Alternatives include whey protein and branched chain amino acids in a glass of shake.

Vitamin D, which is mostly known for its benefit in the prevention of rickets in growing bone, plays a vital role in managing brain injury as well. The mechanism of action here involves a n increase in the synthesis of a substance known as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This is a factor that is vital to the regeneration of injured neurons. It also is involved in maintenance if long term memory, an important property considering that memory is often compromised after injury.

Brain injury, like any other form of tissue injury, results in a considerable high level of metabolic stress. The increased demand for oxygen lead to an increase in cell respiration in a process referred to as oxidative phosphorylation. This stress lasts for about 24 hours but the consequences may last a lot longer. Production of oxygen derived radicals is one of these consequences. Vitamin C and E are important here as they act as antioxidants preventing damage to the cells.

Glutathione is a potent antioxidant found in the body naturally. Some animal studies have shown that an intravenous administration of glutathione following brain cell injury can significantly reduce post traumatic effects. It is expected that the effects are almost the same in humans. While oral intake of glutathione supplements are not readily absorbed, intake of foods that are rich in vitamin C improves the levels of the substance in the blood.

Magnesium is important in the normal functioning of the brain. Its absence is associated with a variety of neurological deficits. In this group of patients, it is important in the prevention of posttraumatic brain injuries and the post concussion syndrome. Unfortunately the levels of magnesium tend to reduce greatly after the injury and the levels will take a few days to return to normal.

The pattern of change in serum levels of zinc closely resembles that seen with magnesium levels. The cause of this decrease is increased losses by the kidneys. Zinc administration has been shown to result in an improvement in both cognitive and behavioural symptoms in patients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. It should be supplemented at a rate of 40mg per day.

Proper nutrition plays a key role in the management of traumatic brain injuries especially if the diagnosis is made in timely fashion. Many of the supplements help in reducing the late onset symptoms by preventing more damage and promoting healing. A combination of several supplements mentioned here increases the chances of success.




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