Multivitamin/minerals
Caused by varying
factors, individuals suffering
from Cerebral Palsy
often suffer from an extremely
reduced caloric intake. Some have a hard time
communicating their needs for food
or food preferences, and some have a
hard time feeding themselves.
Other persons suffer from a certain
amount of oral motor dysfunction
and lack the ability to provide
sufficient self-maintenance. [9] Whatever the reason, the end
result can be stunted growth,
especially in children.[10]
Due to the poor
nutritional status of many
children with Cerebral Palsy,
there is a lack of essential
vitamins and minerals needed for
optimal growth and development. One
particular study involved 19 spastic
quadriplegics between the ages of
3 and 20, being fed by means
of a gastrostomy
tube. It was noted that 16
of the participants had
insufficient vitamin D intake,
while 11 had a calcium intake of less than 80%
of the RDAs established dosage. [11] Supplementation with a
multivitamin would assist these
persons in meeting their
individual
vitamin and mineral requirements,
which are not being fulfilled due
to factors greater than
themselves.
Gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA)
An amino acid
produced in the brain, gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA) is an amino
acid/neurotransmitter that fosters
communication between nerve cells. Large amounts of research
implicate its role in the
provocation of seizure activity
when in short supply. GABA is an
inhibitory neurotransmitter, and
when not present in adequate
amounts, the lack of inhibition
can lead to over excitation that
results in convulsive episodes. [12 To this end, many standard
epilepsy drugs, such as
benzodiazepines and phenobarbital,
aim to boost GABA levels in the
brain. Rather than achieving
increased levels of GABA when using
powerful drugs with many side
effects, one can directly augment
GABA levels via supplementation
with the amino acid itself. The addition of supplemental GABA
into diet
may have a positive effect on
reducing seizure activity often
seen in those with Cerebral
Palsy. In addition,
supplementation with GABA can help
reduce spasticity and rigidity
common to those with Cerebral
Palsy by limiting over
excitation.
Creatine
Monohydrate
Creatine
monohydrate is commonly used to
improve athletic performance by
increasing muscle mass and
function. Found
primarily in skeletal muscle, it is thought that creatine enhances the body's
ability to regenerate energy
(ATP), and
decrease the recovery time from
intense exercise. In those with
muscular dystrophies, short-term
supplementation seems to improve
muscle strength and improve
the many activities of daily living. [13] Due to the muscle rigidity, and
weakness and atrophy seen in those
with Cerebral Palsy, creatine
could be helpful in maintaining
muscle mass and strength.
Magnesium
Many of the most
commonly encountered symptoms in
persons with Cerebral Palsy
include sleep disturbances, muscle
rigidity, muscle spasms and
anxiety. Supplementing
with magnesium may help to alleviate all
these symptoms. Magnesium is found
in a high abundance throughout the
body, and more particularly, in cells. It is a mineral that plays a major role
in enzymatic reactions including
those responsible for cellular energy production. [14] Magnesium is involved in over 300
enzymatic reactions in the body,
and is also essential for the
proper function of nerves and
muscles and transmission of these impulses
across the neuromuscular
junction. [15] One study involving a person with
paraplegia suffering from painful muscle
spasms was given intravenous
magnesium and subsequently
experienced immediate pain
relief. [16] Another study showed the benefit
of magnesium in reducing pain
postoperatively. In 24 patients
undergoing surgery, preoperative
magnesium supplementation greatly
reduced the need for postoperative
pain-relievers, including morphine. [17]
Docosahexanoic acid
(DHA)
and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
DHA and EPA are
long chain polyunsaturated fatty
acids derived from fish and other
marine animals as well as
microalgae. DHA and EPA are both
omega-3 fatty acids, and compete
with arachidonic acid in the
cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase
pathways.[18]
DHA is used as a
supplement for preterm infants and
is now a standard ingredient in
many infant formulas. DHA is vital
during the first four months of
life to enhance mental
development. DHA is also used for
enhancing vision, treating
depression, and reducing
aggressive behavior in people
under stressful situations. In
combination with eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA), DHA is employed to
optimize proper brain function.
Both fatty acids play a major role
in brain function and are thought
to contribute to proper structural
arrangement, neurologic
development, and synaptic membrane
cohesiveness. [19] In addition, research shows that DHA exerts a helpful effect on
visual acuity, learning ability,
and memory. [20] Because of these functions,
supplementation with EPA and DHA
may help to optimize neurologic
function in people with Cerebral
Palsy.
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