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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Nutrients

Boosting Post-Stroke Recovery: The Role of Nutritional Supplementation in Reducing Fatigue—A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Silvia Giovannini1,2
  • Alessandra Pedico2
  • Anna Maria Malizia2
  • Flavia Angelini3
  • Giovanna Assante Di Panzillo4
  • Claudia Loreti5
  • Nadia Morciano1
  • Giovanni Frisullo6
  • Martina Petrucci5
  • Lorenzo Biscotti7
  • Federico Biscetti3,8
  • Andrea Flex3,8
1 more authors
  • Letizia Castelli9
9 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
  2. 2UOSD Riabilitazione Multidimensionale e Tecnologie Integrate, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
  3. 3Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
  4. 4Hospital Health Management, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
  5. 5Department of Emergency, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
  6. 6UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
  7. 7Unità Supporto Amministrativo Dipartimenti Universitari, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
  8. 8UOC Medicina Interna Cardiovascolare, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
  9. 9Department of Neurosciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Abstract

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) remains a debilitating barrier to recovery. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress often create physiological plateaus that standard rehabilitation alone cannot resolve. This single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of Food for Special Medical Purposes formulated with iron and other vitamins and minerals in Sucrosomial® form, allowing improved absorption, bioavailability, and tolerability, as an adjunct to neurorehabilitation. One hundred and twenty stroke patients were randomized into an experimental group (Sid-G) receiving the specific nutraceutical compound or a control group (CG) receiving standard care. Longitudinal assessments from baseline (T0) through 16 weeks (T3) measured clinical outcomes (including fatigue, motor/cognitive function) and physiological markers, specifically phase angle (PhA) derived from Bioimpedance Analysis, and key inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers (IL-6 and MPO). The Sid-G cohort demonstrated superior, sustained improvements in fatigue, motor, and cognitive function (p < 0.05). These clinical gains were reflected in the following physiological observations: the time × group interaction for cellular integrity (SPhA) was not significant, though within-group improvements were observed in Sid-G (p = 0.009); at the group level, significant time × group interactions were detected for key inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (IL-6, p = 0.001; MPO, p = 0.026). Correlational analysis revealed a significant association between changes in inflammatory markers and clinical recovery outcomes in Sid-G, a pattern absent in the CG. Adjunctive supplementation may support recovery by helping patients to overcome physiological plateaus. These findings support further evaluation of an integrated, metabolically focused approach to neurorehabilitation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{giovannini2026boosting,
  title = {{Boosting Post-Stroke Recovery: The Role of Nutritional Supplementation in Reducing Fatigue—A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial}},
  author = {Silvia Giovannini and Alessandra Pedico and Anna Maria Malizia and Flavia Angelini and Giovanna Assante Di Panzillo and Claudia Loreti and Nadia Morciano and Giovanni Frisullo and Martina Petrucci and Lorenzo Biscotti and Federico Biscetti and Andrea Flex and Letizia Castelli},
  journal = {Nutrients},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/nu18213506},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3506},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Boosting Post-Stroke Recovery: The Role of Nutritional Supplementation in Reducing Fatigue—A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
AU  - Silvia Giovannini
AU  - Alessandra Pedico
AU  - Anna Maria Malizia
AU  - Flavia Angelini
AU  - Giovanna Assante Di Panzillo
AU  - Claudia Loreti
AU  - Nadia Morciano
AU  - Giovanni Frisullo
AU  - Martina Petrucci
AU  - Lorenzo Biscotti
AU  - Federico Biscetti
AU  - Andrea Flex
AU  - Letizia Castelli
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Nutrients
DO  - 10.3390/nu18213506
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3506
AB  - Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) remains a debilitating barrier to recovery. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress often create physiological plateaus that standard rehabilitation alone cannot resolve. This single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of Food for Special Medical Purposes formulated with iron and other vitamins and minerals in Sucrosomial® form, allowing improved absorption, bioavailability, and tolerability, as an adjunct to neurorehabilitation. One hundred and twenty stroke patients were randomized into an experimental group (Sid-G) receiving the specific nutraceutical compound or a control group (CG) receiving standard care. Longitudinal assessments from baseline (T0) through 16 weeks (T3) measured clinical outcomes (including fatigue, motor/cognitive function) and physiological markers, specifically phase angle (PhA) derived from Bioimpedance Analysis, and key inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers (IL-6 and MPO). The Sid-G cohort demonstrated superior, sustained improvements in fatigue, motor, and cognitive function (p < 0.05). These clinical gains were reflected in the following physiological observations: the time × group interaction for cellular integrity (SPhA) was not significant, though within-group improvements were observed in Sid-G (p = 0.009); at the group level, significant time × group interactions were detected for key inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (IL-6, p = 0.001; MPO, p = 0.026). Correlational analysis revealed a significant association between changes in inflammatory markers and clinical recovery outcomes in Sid-G, a pattern absent in the CG. Adjunctive supplementation may support recovery by helping patients to overcome physiological plateaus. These findings support further evaluation of an integrated, metabolically focused approach to neurorehabilitation.
SN  - 2072-6643
ER  -