Potential therapeutic implications of ergogenic compounds on pathophysiology induced by traumatic brain injury: A narrative review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating condition that often triggers a sequel of neurological disorders that can last throughout lifespan. From a metabolic viewpoint, the compromising of the energy metabolism of the brain has produced evidence linking the severity of brain injury to the extent of disturbances in the cerebral metabolism. The cerebral metabolic crisis, however, displays that regional heterogeneity varies temporally post-injury. It is important to note that energy generation and mitochondrial function are closely related and interconnected with delayed secondary manifestations of brain injury, including early neuromotor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Given the extent of post-traumatic changes in neuronal function and the possibility of amplifying secondary cascades, different therapies designed to minimize damage and retain/restore cellular function after TBI are currently being studied. One of the possible strategies may be the inclusion of ergogenic compounds, which is a class of supplements that typically includes ingredients used by athletes to enhance their performance. The combination of these compounds offers specific physiological advantages, which include enhanced energy availability/metabolism and improved buffering capacity. However, the literature on their effects in certain biological systems and neurological diseases, such as TBI, has yet to be determined. Thus, the present review aims to discuss the role of ergogenic compounds popularly used in secondary damage induced by this neurological injury. In this narrative review, we also discuss how the results from animal studies can be applied to TBI clinical settings.