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Branched-Chain Amino Acids Help Heal Brain Injuries

September 19, 2018 - Admin

 Traumatic injuries cause inflammation, which trigger major disruptions in protein metabolism. Injury, surgery, and significant degenerative diseases put the body in a catabolic state that favors protein breakdown over protein synthesis. These changes are not exclusive to muscle; they also occur in the nervous system. Brain injury causes disruption of protein metabolism in the nerves, which can disrupt brain function.

  Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia found that brain-injured mice fed branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine) showed improvements in brain function and learning. Studies of muscle showed that key amino acids serve as important signaling chemicals for protein synthesis. They serve similar functions in the nervous system. (Proceedings New York Academy of Sciences, published online December 2009)