title: Spontaneous neurocognitive retrieval of patients with sub-acute ischemic stroke is associated with dietary protein intake.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the relationship between neurocognitive recovery and macronutrient intake of patients suffering from ischemic strokes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty day prospective study of 17 patients suffering from sub-acute stroke (> 14 days from the index event; 10 males, 7 females; mean age 75 +/- 8 years) admitted to our rehabilitation unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At admission (ADM), mean energy intake was inadequate (< 24 kcal/kg) for bodily needs, whereas protein (> 0.8 g/kg) and lipid (> 0.7 g/kg) intake was appropriate. Patients were moderately deficient for neurological (NIHSS 10.3 +/- 3.5) and cognitive tests (MMSE 22.5 +/- 3.3). NIHSS correlated negatively with proteins (r = -0.47, P = 0.05 at ADM; r = -0.52, P = 0.03 at 30 days) and positively with carbohydrate/protein ratio (CHO/protein; r = +0.45, P = 0.06 at ADM; r = +0.48, P = 0.05 at 30 days). However, MMSE correlated positively with proteins (r = +0.77, P = 0.0003 at ADM; r = +0.55, P = 0.02 at 30 days) and negatively with (CHO/Prot; r = -0.57, P = 0.02 at ADM; not significant at 30 days). The relationship remained significant even when the data at ADM and at 30 days where pooled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In sub-acute strokes, patient neurological and cognitive retrieval could positively be associated with protein intake.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Fisiopatologia Metabolico-Nutrizionale e Nutrizione Clinica, Istituto Scientifico di Montescano, Montescano, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aquilani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scocchi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iadarola
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viglio
authors.forename: Evasio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Condello
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pastoris
authors.forename: Andria I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bongiorno
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003071:Cognition; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins