Use of BCAA-rich Protein Supplements for Chronic Stroke Patients to Improve the Functional Performance

In the past few years, Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) supplements have gradually used on different groups. From training athletes, maintaining functions of healthy elders to preventing disabilities of people that can't do intense exercises. BCAAs are now considered to be able to prevent muscle atrophy and strength loss, also possible to increase strength and muscle mass if combined with resistance exercises. Stroke patients have difficulties with moving, which led to multiple disabilities, are more likely to have sarcopenia and strength loss. Furthermore, reducing the will of moving or walking. Recently, studies showed that combined BCAAs with resistance exercises can effectively increase muscle mass, thus commonly used on training athletes.

Although aerobic exercises are proven to be more likely to improve walking ability of chronic stroke patients than traditional rehabilitation, BCAAs' effects are yet to be proven. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore if BCAAs combined with moderate intensity exercises can prevent muscle atrophy, loss of strength and cardiopulmonary function.

This is a randomized control trial. Participants are randomly assigned to either experiment or control groups. Both group received aerobic exercise (30 min in a session, 3 days a week, and for 8 weeks). Experiment group received BCAA supplement immediately after the exercise while the control group receive sham product (vitamins). The outcome measurements (including muscle mass, functional measures, and quality of life) are performed before (0-wk) and after (8-wk) the interventions, also after interventions in 3 months and 6 months for follow up.