Additional Support for BCAAs as a Useful TBI/ABI Therapy

The BART Foundation aims to promote better outcomes for brain injury survivors by answering three questions – Which alternative therapies are likely to work, where can they be found, and how can they be afforded? One of the ways we fulfill our mission is by carefully watching global research and clinical trial outcomes and sharing that information, in user-friendly language, with the TBI/ABI community. While branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) therapy is not one of the treatments the BART Foundation currently advocates for, it is an area worthy of attention and consideration for those with TBI/ABI.

BCAAs are essential amino acids that must be obtained through one’s diet, usually from meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or dairy. BCAA supplements have traditionally been used by those seeking to increase athletic performance. BCAAs are safe and naturally occurring, and reviews of current clinical trials suggest that their use may improve outcomes for TBI survivors.

In a research article originally published in the journal Neurotrauma Reports, researchers from the Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Texas Health Science Center, evaluated whether BCAAs can be preventive or neuroprotective if taken before a TBI. They hypothesized that if BCAAs were elevated in the circulation before TBI, the brain would readily access the BCAAs and the severity of injury would be reduced. While the study relied on animal (mice) testing and did not involve human subjects, mice that had been pre- and post-treated with BCAAs exhibited significantly better motor recovery and cognitive function than the other groups. This is the first study, animal or human, to demonstrate that prophylactic BCAAs are neuroprotective. Treatment with BCAAs clearly provided a protective effect on both motor and cognitive function after TBI in mice. Because of this outcome, additional studies are certainly warranted to evaluate if the same outcomes can be expected in humans.

We will continue to monitor this possible alternative treatment. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!