Fatigue, which is commonly defined as a feeling of tiredness during or after usual
activities, or a feeling of insufficient energy to initiate these activities, is one of the
most common secondary conditions among patients presenting with stroke.
Post Stroke Fatigue (PSF) is a multidimensional motor-perceptual, emotional, and cognitive
experience characterized by a feeling of early exhaustion with tiredness, lack of energy, and
difficulty making efforts, which develops during physical or mental activities, and usually
does not improve with rest.
To try to counteract fatigue and its effects on daily life activities, in addition to the
known pharmacological approach (Modafinil), the use of vitamins and minerals is known to
mitigate, among others, the effects of fatigue. Nutrients provide the energy needed to
maintain the body's structural and biochemical integrity. Energy is associated with a feeling
of well-being, increased stamina and vitality which often translates into the ability to
undertake daily physical or cognitive activities and social relationships, as opposed to
fatigue.
A common feature of fatigue is a "sense of energy exhaustion" which can objectively be
related to not enough energy. Physical and cognitive tiredness occurs when the continuous
demand for energy from the brain and muscles is not met. In humans, dietary macronutrients
provide the fuel needed, among other things, to perform physical activity. In fact, mineral
salts and vitamins are essential for the production of cellular energy, for the maintenance
of brain structures and for allowing the formation of intercellular connections.
When the intake of vitamins and mineral salts is adequate, their biochemical properties
translate into normal physiological functions; a lower intake of mineral salts and vitamins
is associated with lethargy and physical and cognitive fatigue. However, few studies have
evaluated the effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation for the management of physical
and cognitive fatigue.
SiderAL® Med is a food for Special Medical Purposes (AFMS), with a complete formulation that
contains vitamins, sucrosomial minerals (Iron, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc and Selenium), copper
and algal calcium, with enhanced dosages to meet particular needs nutritional. AFMS are
products formulated for the dietary management of patients with proven nutritional needs, for
whom modifications to the normal diet are not sufficient.
In some cases, these are subjects with limited, disturbed or altered ability to take, digest,
absorb, metabolize or eliminate certain nutrients, in other cases, however, nutritional needs
can be determined by specific clinical conditions.
On the basis of scientific evidences, therefore, the aim of the study is to evaluate whether
the nutritional supplement with SiderAL® Med improves the symptom of fatigue, motor and
cognitive function in patients with stroke outcomes.