Original Paper

Is Antioxidant and n-3 Supplementation Able to Improve Functional Status in Poststroke Patients? Results from the Nutristroke Trial
F. Garbagnati^a, G. Cairella^a, A. De Martino^{a, b}, M. Multari^c, U. Scognamiglio^a, V. Venturiero^c, S. Paolucci<sup>c

a</sup>Centro Studi Alimentazione e Riabilitazione, IRCCS Fondazione S. Lucia,
^bDepartment of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, and
^cIRCCS Fondazione S. Lucia, Rome, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Cerebrovasc Dis 2009;27:375-383 (DOI: 10.1159/000207441)

  Key Words

• Stroke rehabilitation
• Nutritional supplements
• Antioxidants
• Fatty acids, n-3

  Abstract

Background: To test whether supplementary antioxidants and n-3 fatty acids, alone or in combination, could improve functional status in stroke survivors. Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 72 stroke patients (47 males; age 65.3 ± 12.9 years) admitted to a rehabilitation hospital for sequelae of first-ever ischemic stroke, and divided them into 4 subgroups. Group 1 patients received daily oral antioxidants, group 2 received n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, group 3 both supplements, and group 4 placebo, all for 12 months. No difference at baseline was observed among groups in neurological severity or in disability. All measures were repeated after 6 and 12 months of treatment. All major clinical events were recorded. Results: At baseline, 25% of the patients had a low plasma vitamin status, and 48.5% was at risk of undernutrition. At the 1-year follow-up, we observed a trend for lower mortality (p = 0.060) in subgroups treated with n-3 fatty acids, but without significant differences in rehabilitation result status among groups. Conclusions: Malnutrition is widely observed in patients admitted to a rehabilitative hospital for stroke rehabilitation, and dietary supplementation, even if not able to improve rehabilitation results, is likely to reduce mortality at the 1-year follow-up.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

F. Garbagnati
CeSAR - Centro Studi Alimentazione e Riabilitazione
c/o Fondazione S. Lucia, Via Ardeatina, 306
IT-00179 Roma (Italy)
Tel. +39 06 5150 1541, Fax +39 06 5032 097, E-Mail cesar@hsantalucia.it

  Article Information

Received: July 10, 2008
Accepted after revision: November 25, 2008
Published online: March 10, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 6, Number of References : 46