Citation

Lewis MD. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2016; 35(5): 469-475.

Affiliation

Brain Health Education and Research Institute , Potomac , Maryland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American College of Nutrition)

DOI

10.1080/07315724.2016.1150796

PMID

27454858

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), with its diverse heterogeneity and prolonged secondary pathogenesis, remains a clinical challenge. Clinical studies thus far have failed to identify an effective treatment strategy when a combination of targets controlling aspects of neuroprotection, neuroinflammation, and neuroregeneration is needed. Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) offer the advantage of this approach. Although further clinical trial research is needed, there is a growing body of strong preclinical evidence and clinical experience that suggests that benefits may be possible from aggressively adding substantial amounts of n-3FA to optimize the nutritional foundation of TBI, concussion, and postconcussion syndrome patients. Early and optimal doses of n-3FA, even in a prophylactic setting, have the potential to improve outcomes from this potentially devastating problem. With evidence of unsurpassed safety and tolerability, n-3FA should be considered mainstream, conventional medicine, if conventional medicine can overcome its inherent bias against nutritional, nonpharmacologic therapies.

Language: en