by Bob Calvin, MS, RD, CSSD, LD/N, CSCS and Denise Barry, RD
Performance Nutritionists – Athletes Performance

Mild traumatic brain injuries, or as they are more commonly known concussions, have been a hot topic lately within the sporting world. According to the Brain Injury Research Institute, headed by one of the leading researchers in the field, Dr. Julian Bailes, “approximately 1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions are estimated to occur annually in the United States” (1). As we are coming to learn this is a very serious matter that cannot be taken lightly.

When the brain undergoes a concussive impact or force, neurons, the main functional cells of the brain, are damaged. The neuron’s axon, or tail, undergoes swelling and detachment from soma, or cell body. Leakage of calcium and other chemical messengers into the synaptic space can then occur through damage in the axon’s membrane. This leakage can lead to disruptions in cellular metabolism, glucose utilization, neuron communication and ultimately apoptosis, or cell death (2).

This all sounds very grave, so you might be asking yourself, is there anything that can be done to protect against / minimize damage, or accelerate the healing process? According to the research, the answer may be yes, and may very well lie within that fish oil capsule you have sitting in your medicine cabinet.

Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids post traumatic brain injury, particularly DHA (the most abundant omega-3 found in the neuronal membrane) has been shown to produce neuroprotective effects in rats. These essential omega-3 fats appear to enhance phospholipid production (the primary constituent of the cellular membrane), nerve growth and circulation, while at the same time combating chronic inflammation (2).

Do not let this information limit your omega-3 supplementation to post injury, as there is also compelling preliminary research in the rat model for supplementing prior to a potential injury. In a recent paper, Mills and colleagues showed that DHA supplementation prior to a traumatic brain injury in rats significantly reduced axonal injury and apoptosis while improving memory function when compared to controls (3).

This preliminary research in the animal model is quite convincing, nevertheless, more studies need to done on the human population to really determine the need and dosing for omega-3s. Currently, the most frequently recommended dose of supplemental omega-3 for overall health is 1-3 total grams of EPA/DHA per day (2). Now go take your fish oil!

References:
Gail Hayes. CDC Announces Updated Information to help Physicians Recognize and Manage Concussions Early. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2007/r070607.htm?s_cid=mediarel_r070607. Accessed October 26, 2009.

Bailes, JE, Mills, JD. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Reduces Traumatic Axonal Injury in a Rodent Head Injury Model. Journal of Neurotrauma.

Mills JD, Hadley K, Bailes JE. Dietary supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in traumatic brain injury. Neurosurgery. 2011 Feb;68(2):474-81; discussion 481.