Dietary Supplementation With the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid in Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Dietary supplementation with DHA increases serum levels and, if given prior to traumatic brain injury, reduces the injury response, as measured by axonal injury counts, markers for cellular injury and apoptosis, and memory assessment by water maze testing. This uniform response was seen for the highest dosage group, 40 mg/kg given over 30 days prior to injury, but when measured by stereological counting methodology there was a positive response to anatomical injury across low to high doses of DHA. The potential for DHA to provide prophylactic benefit to the brain against traumatic injury appears promising and requires further investigation.

Prophylactic combined supplementation of choline and docosahexaenoic acid attenuates vascular cognitive impairment and preserves hippocampal cell viability in rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion ischemic brain injury

“…10 Alternately, dietary supplementation with DHA prior to traumatic brain injury reduces injury response, as measured by axonal injury counts, apoptosis, and memory assessment by water maze testing. 12 In addition, in the current study, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion injured rats were found to be significantly poor in retaining avoidance memories (Figure 4) on the passive avoidance task, compared to the same in NC rats. BCCAO rats have either failed to learn or failed to retrieve memory of the previous unpleasant experience of foot shock delivered in the dark compartment and demonstrates poor retention memory as evidenced by short latency to enter the dark compartment compared to the same in NC.…”

“…group. 12 Based on these studies, we hypothesize that combined Cho-DHA prior to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion injury will preserve cognitive functional integrity.…”

Role of subconcussion in repetitive mild traumatic brain injury

“…By modifying the Marmarou weight-drop model of concussion, we have been able to diminish impact forces to effect no obvious reaction or behavior change, and thus simulating less than a concussive injury. 2,[51][52][53] Using staining for amyloid precursor protein, we have shown that these subconcussive impacts reliably produce tearing of axons and the formation of axonal retraction bulbs in the brainstem-level descending motor pathways. In reducing the fall height of a 450-g mass from 2 to 1 m, we found no alteration of consciousness or responsiveness but significant numbers of amyloid precursor protein-positive axons compared with the number in controls (JD Mills, JE Bailes, unpublished data, 2010).…”

n -3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Reduce Neonatal Hypoxic/Ischemic Brain Injury by Promoting Phosphatidylserine Formation and Akt Signaling

“…This is consistent with previous work showing that n-3 PUFAs prevent neuronal death induced by multiple stimuli, including serum deprivation, 19 amyloid-β oligomers, [20][21][22] and traumatic brain damage. 23,24 However, there is some controversy in that treatment with DHA or EPA has also been reported to increase neuronal death in response to prion protein. 25,26 Thus, it is possible that the effects of n-3 PUFAs on neuronal survival depend on the nature of the stimulus or insult.…”