Role of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Traumatic Brain Injury

Worldwide, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) cause a great deal of suffering and death, making them an important issue in public health. The pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex network of events that can lead to neurologic deficits and changes in neuronal function, such as excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial malfunction. Consequently, interest in creating new therapeutic approaches to mitigate TBI’s adverse effects and enhance rehabilitation is on the rise. The potential neuroprotective effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in various neurological illnesses have been highlighted in recent publications, which has prompted additional investigation into their usage in traumatic brain injury. Amino acids that are essential for protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and neurotransmitter regulation are the BCAAs, which consist of valine, isoleucine, and leucine. Molecular processes such as excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation complicate the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI). As substrates for protein synthesis and modulators of signalling pathways, BCAAs exhibit complicated neuroprotective properties. Based on experimental evidence, BCAAs have the potential to improve cognitive outcomes after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) by reducing neuroinflammation, increasing cellular resilience, and promoting synaptic plasticity.