Perspective Chapter: Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury and Effect of Neutraceuticals in Providing Potential Health Benefits

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is extremely debilitating disorder. The increasing incidences and persisting poor prognosis in neurological recovery and QoL (SCIM) have severely exposed the limitations of all known management strategies. Recently simple measures like nutritional supplementation in SCI cases have shown promising results. Efforts in augmenting neurological recovery and QoL (SCIM) following SCI are being studied world over. Unfortunately, little success has been achieved and the most promising ones such as corticosteroids, newer pharmaceutical agents, and cellular therapies have conflicting results. Several studies have found significant improvement in recovery following nutritional intervention in acute trauma and critically ill subjects. These were reported to be cost effective and easy to administer. Since most of these studies were on a specific nutritional supplement, the full potential of a set of nutritional supplementation facilitating neurological recovery needs to be explored. In ASCI, the improvement in neurological status and QOL (SCIM) is unpredictable and remains poor with known therapy. It has been reported that injuries heal better with nutritional supplementation. Taurine, vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acid, etc. have specifically found to be effective in facilitating recovery in acute trauma.