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Traumatic Brain InjuryNCT03032302

Micronutrient Supplement Effects on Cognitive Outcomes in Post-Acute TBI

A study testing Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin and Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil in people with Traumatic Brain Injury, run by Sheffield Hallam University at 1 site in United Kingdom.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to neuronal damage occurring as the result of an external force being applied to brain tissue. In the United Kingdom annual figures (2013-2014) show 449,000 hospital admittances with a diagnosis of head injury with males up to five times more likely to sustain a head injury than… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Traumatic Brain Injury
What is being tested?
Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin and Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteUnited Kingdom
Study dates
1 Oct 2017to 18 Apr 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • First and only traumatic brain injury.
  • Complex mild to moderate injury.
  • 3-24 months post-injury

Who cannot join

  • Unable to give informed consent.
  • Already taking micronutrient/fatty acid supplements.
  • Hemianopia
  • Hemiplegia.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Diagnosed with clinically low blood pressure, diabetes, or disease of neurodegeneration.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United Kingdom1 site
  • Sheffield Hallam University

    Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2BQ

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Micronutrient Intervention Effects on Cognitive Outcomes in Post-Acute Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to neuronal damage occurring as the result of an external force being applied to brain tissue. In the United Kingdom annual figures (2013-2014) show 449,000 hospital admittances with a diagnosis of head injury with males up to five times more likely to sustain a head injury than females. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes life-long disability, with no significant reduction in life expectancy, affecting a diverse range of cognitive and social functions including memory, task planning and execution, impulse control, social interactions, personality changes and depression. Following traumatic brain injury acquired deficits can lead to problems with resumption of aspects of daily life, particularly in terms of returning to work and interpersonal relationships.

The initial injury triggers a secondary cascade of metabolic, neurochemical and cellular changes within the brain, primarily aimed at limiting damage and stimulating repair. Paradoxically prolonged secondary cascade mechanisms, including haemorrhage, oedema, neuroinflammation and axonal injury, results in exacerbation of deficits observed. The heterogeneous on-going nature of the secondary cascade presents clinicians with opportunities to intervene in an attempt to limit neuronal damage. A large body of nutritional research has been focused on addressing the hypermetabolic and catabolic states created by secondary cascade processes in the acute stage. Addressing these demands has played a significant role in reducing mortality and infection rates following head injury, however there has not been the same depth of research investigating the post-acute period (once individuals are discharged from hospital).

Read the detailed description

Micronutrients (including vitamins, minerals and certain polyunsaturated fatty acids) are required by the brain for normal functioning and, with few exceptions, can only be obtained through dietary sources. Research into degenerative diseases of aging have linked mitochondrial aging and DNA damage caused by micronutrient deficiency to greater incidence of cognitive decline and stroke, among other diseases, in the general population, particularly in those consuming food rich in fats and carbohydrates but poor in micronutrient content. Other research focusing on cognition, behaviour and mood state has associated micronutrient deficiencies with a wide range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders, depression, fatigue and schizophrenia. There have however been very few studies using micronutrient interventions in post-acute human TBI. In a study with thirty retired American Football players an intervention including supplementation with a broad-spectrum multivitamin, omega-3 fish oils and a number of other substances resulted in significant percentile score improvements in almost half of the participants (n=100) across a broad range of cognitive measures. Findings demonstrated that micronutrient intervention can result in significant measurable improvements in those with TBI many years following the initial insult. A normative study will be conducted with three groups assigned to Vit D, Vit C and multivitamin arms (N = 60) tested at baseline on cognitive function and post-intervention. The TBI study will recruit three groups of individuals with post-acute traumatic brain injuries and measure whether there is improved cognitive outcomes (measured by test-retest on a cognitive battery) associated with the supplements shown to be most effective in the pilot study.

Being tested
Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin, Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
Keywords
TBI
Medical subject headings
Brain Injuries, Traumatic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite MultivitaminDietary supplement

    Single tablet taken once daily

  • Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish OilDietary supplement

    Single capsule taken once daily

Study groups in NCT03032302
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MultivitaminExperimentalSwisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin. Once daily.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin; Dietary Supplement: Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
Omega-3 Fatty AcidsExperimentalHolland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oils. Once Daily
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin; Dietary Supplement: Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
ControlNo interventionTreatment as usual (cognitive rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physiotherapy; as required)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Performance on cognitive test measures (a battery of standardized tests; memory, executive function, social cognition, general intelligence, learning and processing speed)

    Analysis of change in cognitive test battery results between each time point (T2 minus T1. T3 minus T2. T3 minus T1)

    Measured: Three time points: baseline (T1), 8 weeks (T2) and 22 weeks (T3)

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Average dietary intake of micronutrients and fatty acids

    Analysis of dietary intake via Nutritics software (https://www.nutritics.com/p/references), average intake value for each micronutrient supplied by software output. This will be compared to recommended daily amounts to evaluate levels of sufficiency/insufficiency in each participant.

    Measured: Data collected at four time points (3 day diaries) during participant's involvement in the study via participants filling in paper food diary

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Jan 2017 (estimated)
  2. Study start1 Oct 2017
  3. Primary completion18 Apr 2020
  4. Study completion18 Apr 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
30 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03032302
Sponsor's protocol ID
STH19529
Status last verified
Oct 2020
First submitted
22 Dec 2016
Last updated
22 Oct 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Lippert-Gruner M, Kuchta J, Hellmich M, Klug N. Neurobehavioural deficits after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain Inj. 2006 Jun;20(6):569-74. doi: 10.1080/02699050600664467.

    PubMed 16754282
  • Bombardier CH, Fann JR, Temkin NR, Esselman PC, Barber J, Dikmen SS. Rates of major depressive disorder and clinical outcomes following traumatic brain injury. JAMA. 2010 May 19;303(19):1938-45. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.599.

    PubMed 20483970
  • Borzotta AP, Pennings J, Papasadero B, Paxton J, Mardesic S, Borzotta R, Parrott A, Bledsoe F. Enteral versus parenteral nutrition after severe closed head injury. J Trauma. 1994 Sep;37(3):459-68. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199409000-00022.

    PubMed 8083910
  • Cook AM, Peppard A, Magnuson B. Nutrition considerations in traumatic brain injury. Nutr Clin Pract. 2008 Dec-2009 Jan;23(6):608-20. doi: 10.1177/0884533608326060.

    PubMed 19033220
  • Ames BN. Optimal micronutrients delay mitochondrial decay and age-associated diseases. Mech Ageing Dev. 2010 Jul-Aug;131(7-8):473-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2010.04.005. Epub 2010 Apr 24.

    PubMed 20420847
  • Balion C, Griffith LE, Strifler L, Henderson M, Patterson C, Heckman G, Llewellyn DJ, Raina P. Vitamin D, cognition, and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology. 2012 Sep 25;79(13):1397-405. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826c197f.

    PubMed 23008220
  • Bitarafan S, Harirchian MH, Nafissi S, Sahraian MA, Togha M, Siassi F, Saedisomeolia A, Alipour E, Mohammadpour N, Chamary M, Honarvar NM, Saboor-Yaraghi AA. Dietary intake of nutrients and its correlation with fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients. Iran J Neurol. 2014;13(1):28-32.

    PubMed 24800044
  • Nimitphong H, Holick MF. Vitamin D, neurocognitive functioning and immunocompetence. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2011 Jan;14(1):7-14. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e3283414c38.

    PubMed 21102318
  • Oudshoorn C, Mattace-Raso FU, van der Velde N, Colin EM, van der Cammen TJ. Higher serum vitamin D3 levels are associated with better cognitive test performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008;25(6):539-43. doi: 10.1159/000134382. Epub 2008 May 26.

    PubMed 18503256
  • Amen DG, Wu JC, Taylor D, Willeumier K. Reversing brain damage in former NFL players: implications for traumatic brain injury and substance abuse rehabilitation. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2011 Jan-Mar;43(1):1-5. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2011.566489.

    PubMed 21615001
  • Lucke-Wold B, Zasler ND, Ruchika F, Weisman S, Le D, Brunicardi J, Kong I, Ghumman H, Persad S, Mahan D, Delawan M, Shah S, Aghili-Mehrizi S. Supplement and nutraceutical therapy in traumatic brain injury. Nutr Neurosci. 2025 Jun;28(6):709-743. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2024.2404782. Epub 2024 Dec 30.

    PubMed 40440029

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Swisse Womens 50+ Ultivite Multivitamin and Holland and Barrett Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil in people with Traumatic Brain Injury, run by Sheffield Hallam University at 1 site in United Kingdom.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Oct 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Performance on cognitive test measures (a battery of standardized tests; memory, executive function, social cognition, general intelligence, learning and processing speed) (time frame: Three time points: baseline (T1), 8 weeks (T2) and 22 weeks (T3)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03032302, which also lists 11 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Oct 2020.

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