Abstract
BACKGROUND Nutritional interventions are promising treatment adjuncts in the management of concussion. Vitamin D (VDH) supplementation has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in multiple models of acquired brain injury. OBJECTIVE Review the neuroprotective role of VDH supplementation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS A Medline search was conducted to review manuscripts investigating the influence of VDH status or supplementation on TBI outcomes. RESULTS The search identified 165 studies, of which five were included. Four manuscripts studied a rodent model of TBI, while one studied a clinical sample. Vitamin D monotherapy independently reduced inflammation and neuronal injury following TBI, with a more robust effect observed in combination with progesterone (PROG). One study demonstrated VDH deficiency exacerbates post-TBI inflammatory response. One study in a clinical sample found combination therapy superior to PROG alone or placebo in improving outcomes after severe TBI. One study observed a more robust response to low-dose VDH compared to high-dose VDH when given in combination with PROG. CONCLUSION A protective role for VDH and a vitamin D sufficient status was identified for numerous outcomes following TBI. However, VDH supplementation cannot be recommended at this time to improve outcomes following TBI.
