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Amino Acids for Stroke Recovery
Can amino acid supplements help during stroke recovery? The latest research shows promising results regarding the effects of amino acids on patients during exercise and recovery.
One study investigated whether 30 days of oral supplementation with a special mixture of amino acids (AAs), together with conventional therapy, could improve exercise capacity in 95 elderly people with chronic heart failure. The patients were randomly assigned to a special oral nutritional mixture of 4 grams of AAs twice daily or a placebo. Results showed that exercise capacity in the AA group improved compared to the placebo group—oral AA supplementation, in conjunction with pharmacologic therapy, enhanced circulatory function, muscle oxygen consumption, and aerobic production of energy.
Another study examined amino acid and protein metabolism during exercise and recovery and found that amino acids restore glycogen, a substance deposited in bodily tissues as a store of carbohydrates, which are used as fuel during exercise.
Taking a balanced amino acid supplement can also stimulate muscle protein synthesis. During recovery patients often stay in bed, and go through periods of physical inactivity. Studies show that essential amino acids reduce the loss of muscle protein mass and physical strength
