title: Branched-chain amino acids enhance the cognitive recovery of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves recovery of cognition and influences plasma concentrations of tyrosine and tryptophan, which are precursors of, respectively, catecholamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with TBI were randomly assigned to 15 days of intravenous BCAA supplementation (19.6g/d) (n=20) or an isonitrogenous placebo (n=20).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care rehabilitation setting in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty men (mean age, 32+/-15 y) with TBI and 20 healthy subjects (controls) matched for age, sex, and sedentary lifestyle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Supplementation with BCAAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and plasma concentrations of BCAAs, tyrosine, and tryptophan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen days after admission to the rehabilitation department, the DRS score had improved significantly in both the placebo group (P<.05 vs baseline) and in the BCAA-supplemented group (P<.01 vs baseline). The difference between the 2 groups was significant (P<.004). Plasma tyrosine concentration improved in the group given BCAA supplementation, and tryptophan concentration increased in patients receiving placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplemental BCAAs enhance the retrieval of DRS without causing negative effects on tyrosine and tryptophan concentration.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Fisiopatologia Metabolico-Nutrizionale e Nutrizione Clinica.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aquilani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iadarola
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contardi
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boselli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verri
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pastoris
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arcidiaco
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viglio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain