ChiroTrust

The ChiroTrust Pledge

You are here: Home / Whiplash / Whiplash and Concussion – Important Nutritional Considerations

Whiplash and Concussion – Important Nutritional Considerations

by

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is one of the many conditions that can accompany a whiplash injury. The term is often used interchangeably with concussion, while “post-concussion syndrome” and TBI (without the word “mild”) refer to long-term residual symptoms. Symptoms associated with mTBI initially include dizziness, nausea, and headaches followed by slow cognition—difficulty processing thought, losing one’s place during discussions, difficulty with verbal expression, and more. Many mTBI sufferers describe this as “mental fog.”

Following mTBI, the brain releases various chemicals that help repair damaged neurons and reduce the risk of neurodegeneration. One such chemical is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and one of the best methods for increasing BDNF levels is intense exercise. However, because patients are advised to rest and slowly return to their normal activities following an mTBI, proper nutrition and supplements are necessary to boost BDNF levels. This can include consuming protein-rich foods such as a daily shake made of whey protein or pea and rice protein with added branched chain amino acids. Research has shown that combining this with 10 grams of creatine monohydrate is important for energy production in the brain. A recommended daily dose of 5000 IU of vitamin D can also assist in raising BDNF levels.

The research shows that a high-quality fish oil of up to 4000 mg/day in the first three weeks followed by 2000 to 4000 mg/day for three months can aid recovery. Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) can help reduce inflammation from mTBI. The DHA in fish oil helps improve the strength and flexibility of the cell membranes of neurons, while EPA suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory chemicals such as prostaglandins and others.

Studies also support administering glutathione (an antioxidant normally found in our cells), as it reportedly reduces brain tissue damage by an average of 70%. Other helpful options include vitamin C, selenium, niacinamide or B3, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (750-1000mg), broccoli extract, magnesium, curcumin (found in turmeric), and green tea extract.

Your doctor of chiropractic can help guide you in managing your nutritional program following a concussion.

Related Articles

 Interesting Facts About Whiplash We all know automobile accidents or motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the most common cause of whiplash; however, whiplash can also occur from a slip and fall and virtually any injury where your head is whipped backwards. Here are some important facts about whiplash you may not be aware of... For example, did you know the effect whiplash has o...
Whiplash: How Do X-Rays Help? Whiplash commonly occurs as a result of a motor vehicle collision when (typically) there is a sudden stop or deceleration that occurs so fast a person cannot adequately brace himself or herself, even when aware of an impending collision. This is because the "whiplash" effect is over in about 500 msec and we cannot voluntarily contract a muscle quic...
Chiropractic Treatment of Whiplash Whiplash is basically an injury to the muscles, the muscle attachments (tendons), ligaments, and sometimes the nerves that exit the cervical spine. The degree of injury is highly variable and depends on many factors, some of which include gender/body size (slender-necked woman are especially at risk), awareness of the impending collision, head posi...
Whiplash and Vision – What’s The Connection... "Post concussive syndrome" (PCS) can affect up to 20-30% of patients who have a mild whiplash injury caused during a motor vehicle collision. Interestingly, eye movements have a close relationship to the function of the brain and can be an accurate measure for determining the presence of PCS, as well as a good barometer for tracking the recovery pr...