Micronutrient Supplement Effects on Cognitive Outcomes in Post-Acute TBI
- Conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite MultivitaminDietary Supplement: Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
- Registration Number
- NCT03032302
- Lead Sponsor
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Brief Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to neuronal damage occurring as the result of an external force being applied to brain tissue. In the United Kingdom annual figures (2013-2014) show 449,000 hospital admittances with a diagnosis of head injury with males up to five times more likely to sustain a head injury than females. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes life-long disability, with no significant reduction in life expectancy, affecting a diverse range of cognitive and social functions including memory, task planning and execution, impulse control, social interactions, personality changes and depression. Following traumatic brain injury acquired deficits can lead to problems with resumption of aspects of daily life, particularly in terms of returning to work and interpersonal relationships.
The initial injury triggers a secondary cascade of metabolic, neurochemical and cellular changes within the brain, primarily aimed at limiting damage and stimulating repair. Paradoxically prolonged secondary cascade mechanisms, including haemorrhage, oedema, neuroinflammation and axonal injury, results in exacerbation of deficits observed. The heterogeneous on-going nature of the secondary cascade presents clinicians with opportunities to intervene in an attempt to limit neuronal damage. A large body of nutritional research has been focused on addressing the hypermetabolic and catabolic states created by secondary cascade processes in the acute stage. Addressing these demands has played a significant role in reducing mortality and infection rates following head injury, however there has not been the same depth of research investigating the post-acute period (once individuals are discharged from hospital).
- Detailed Description
Micronutrients (including vitamins, minerals and certain polyunsaturated fatty acids) are required by the brain for normal functioning and, with few exceptions, can only be obtained through dietary sources. Research into degenerative diseases of aging have linked mitochondrial aging and DNA damage caused by micronutrient deficiency to greater incidence of cognitive decline and stroke, among other diseases, in the general population, particularly in those consuming food rich in fats and carbohydrates but poor in micronutrient content. Other research focusing on cognition, behaviour and mood state has associated micronutrient deficiencies with a wide range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders, depression, fatigue and schizophrenia. There have however been very few studies using micronutrient interventions in post-acute human TBI. In a study with thirty retired American Football players an intervention including supplementation with a broad-spectrum multivitamin, omega-3 fish oils and a number of other substances resulted in significant percentile score improvements in almost half of the participants (n=100) across a broad range of cognitive measures. Findings demonstrated that micronutrient intervention can result in significant measurable improvements in those with TBI many years following the initial insult. A normative study will be conducted with three groups assigned to Vit D, Vit C and multivitamin arms (N = 60) tested at baseline on cognitive function and post-intervention. The TBI study will recruit three groups of individuals with post-acute traumatic brain injuries and measure whether there is improved cognitive outcomes (measured by test-retest on a cognitive battery) associated with the supplements shown to be most effective in the pilot study.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 30
- First and only traumatic brain injury.
- Complex mild to moderate injury.
- 3-24 months post-injury
- Unable to give informed consent.
- Already taking micronutrient/fatty acid supplements.
- Hemianopia
- Hemiplegia.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Diagnosed with clinically low blood pressure, diabetes, or disease of neurodegeneration.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Multivitamin Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin. Once daily. Multivitamin Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin. Once daily. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oils. Once Daily Omega-3 Fatty Acids Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oils. Once Daily
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Performance on cognitive test measures (a battery of standardized tests; memory, executive function, social cognition, general intelligence, learning and processing speed) Three time points: baseline (T1), 8 weeks (T2) and 22 weeks (T3) Analysis of change in cognitive test battery results between each time point (T2 minus T1. T3 minus T2. T3 minus T1)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Average dietary intake of micronutrients and fatty acids Data collected at four time points (3 day diaries) during participant's involvement in the study via participants filling in paper food diary Analysis of dietary intake via Nutritics software (https://www.nutritics.com/p/references), average intake value for each micronutrient supplied by software output. This will be compared to recommended daily amounts to evaluate levels of sufficiency/insufficiency in each participant.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Sheffield Hallam University
🇬🇧Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom