Anggita Citra Resmi Mauluddy, Diana Sunardi

The role of nutritional management in preventing stroke and improving clinical outcomes

Introduction

The role of nutritional management in preventing stroke and improving clinical outcomes. Explore how nutritional management prevents stroke & improves clinical outcomes. Learn about dietary strategies (DASH, omega-3s) & supplementation for recovery.

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of global morbidity, mortality, and substantial economic burden. Modifiable stroke risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, can be effectively managed through targeted nutritional interventions. Nutritional management also supports neurological recovery and contributes to improved clinical outcomes in stroke survivors. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases from the last ten years, focusing on nutritional management for stroke prevention, clinical outcomes, dietary patterns, and nutrient supplementation during post-stroke recovery. Results: Dietary strategies, including Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), high intake of dietary fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, significantly reduce stroke risk by improving cardiovascular health and decreasing inflammation. Supplementation with micronutrients such as B vitamins supports neurological and vascular function. Post-stroke nutritional issues such as dysphagia, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and pressure injuries commonly impair patient recovery. Targeted nutritional intervention, particularly adequate protein and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation, help preserve muscle mass, enhance functional recovery, and optimize rehabilitation outcomes. Conclusions: Nutritional management plays a crucial role in both preventing stroke and improving clinical outcomes following stroke. Implementing effective nutritional strategies, together with patient education on healthy dietary practices, is fundamental for reducing stroke risk, accelerating recovery, and enhancing quality of life.

Review

This literature review comprehensively addresses the critical and multifaceted role of nutritional management in the context of stroke. The chosen topic is highly pertinent given stroke's significant global health burden and the profound potential for nutrition to impact both its prevention and the recovery trajectory. The authors effectively position nutritional interventions not only as a crucial means to manage modifiable stroke risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes, but also as a vital support for neurological recovery and the improvement of clinical outcomes in stroke survivors. The scope, drawing from major medical databases over the last decade, indicates an effort to capture recent and relevant evidence. The review highlights several key dietary strategies and interventions across the stroke care continuum. For primary prevention, the abstract points to the efficacy of established patterns like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, alongside high intake of dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, linking these to improved cardiovascular health and reduced inflammation. Furthermore, it touches upon micronutrient supplementation, specifically B vitamins, for supporting neurological and vascular function. Crucially, the review delves into common post-stroke nutritional challenges such as dysphagia, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and pressure injuries, proposing targeted interventions like adequate protein and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation to preserve muscle mass and optimize rehabilitation outcomes. While the abstract outlines the databases and timeframe, a more detailed understanding of the methodology, including specific search terms, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the qualitative or quantitative synthesis approach, would be beneficial for a complete assessment of the evidence strength within the full manuscript. In conclusion, this review powerfully reiterates that nutritional management is an indispensable component of both primary and secondary stroke care. Its findings underscore the profound impact that effective nutritional strategies, coupled with robust patient education on healthy dietary practices, can have on reducing stroke incidence, accelerating recovery, and ultimately enhancing patients' quality of life. This work serves as a valuable reminder for clinicians and public health practitioners about the therapeutic and preventative potential of diet in stroke management. Future research could build upon this by exploring personalized nutrition approaches, long-term adherence to dietary interventions, and the cost-effectiveness of these strategies in diverse populations.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.