Studies on American collegiate football players who supplemented with omega-3 throughout both the preseason and during the season showed less of a blood biomarker called Nf-L as compared to the placebo controls at the end of the season. [1-2]
Nf-L is short for neurofilament-light chain and is a commonly used biomarker to detect traumatic brain injury. [3]
These studies are very promising particularly as there is evidence of elevated Nf-L after repeated subconcussive overpressure (blast) exposures. [4]
Unfortunately, studies on the role of diet and supplementation on brain health in those exposed to repeated low-level blasts are scarce.
A literature review of high-quality studies on blast exposures from 2000-2019 found that out of 3,215 studies, only 43 were on low-level blasts. None of these studies were cited as including a nutrition/supplementation perspective in the literature review. [5]
Nutrition and supplementation perspectives deserve at seat at the table when it comes to a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the impacts of repeated subconcussive exposures. This should include contributions from practitioners and researchers alike, with feedback from end-users included in the prioritization of the topics of the studies and interventions.
Supplementation is a very interesting topic, with dosage, contraindications, and timing of supplement consumption of interest to me.
What areas of nutrition and supplementation would you like to see prioritized in future research?
References:
- Heileson, J. L., Anzalone, A. J., Carbuhn, A. F., Askow, A. T., Stone, J. D., Turner, S. M., … & Oliver, J. M. (2021). The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on a biomarker of head trauma in NCAA football athletes: a multi-site, non-randomized study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18, 1-13.
- Oliver, J. M., Jones, M. T., Kirk, K. M., Gable, D. A., Repshas, J. T., Johnson, T. A., … & Zetterberg, H. (2016). Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on a biomarker of head trauma in American football. Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise, 48(6), 974-982.
- Coppens, S., Lehmann, S., Hopley, C., & Hirtz, C. (2023). Neurofilament-light, a promising biomarker: analytical, metrological and clinical challenges. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(14), 11624.
- Boutte, A. M., Thangavelu, B., LaValle, C. R., Nemes, J., Gilsdorf, J., Shear, D. A., & Kamimori, G. H. (2019). Brain-related proteins as serum biomarkers of acute, subconcussive blast overpressure exposure: a cohort study of military personnel. PLoS one, 14(8), e0221036.
- Belding, J. N., Englert, R. M., Fitzmaurice, S., Jackson, J. R., Koenig, H. G., Hunter, M. A., … & da Silva, U. O. (2021). Potential health and performance effects of high-level and low-level blast: a scoping review of two decades of research. Frontiers in neurology, 12, 628782.