Naval Medical Center - Treating Injured Marines Returning From Iraq

PMC antioxidant micronutrient formulation increased the efficacy of standard therapy (steroids, physical therapy, vestibular rehabilitation and supportive care) over a 12-week period in Marines with mild to moderate concussive head injury returning from Iraq.

Antioxidant Micronutrients Improve Neuro-Vestibular Recovery After Concussive Blast Injuries in Combat – Naval Medical Center (NMC), San Diego, CA

U.S. Marine Corps personnel suffering mild to moderate head injuries in Iraq were transported back to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego for care. They were prospectively randomized into two groups: one received standard medical treatment including physical therapy, steroids and supportive care and the other received the same standard medical treatment in addition to consuming the PMC formulation twice daily. The treating doctors and therapists were blinded as to which Marines were receiving the antioxidants. Time points were at 4, 8 and 12 weeks and the outcome measures were sensory organization (computerized dynamic posturography), dynamic gait index, balance system scoring, dizzyness handicap index, activities balance confidence, symptoms resolution, exercise tolerance and return to full duty status.

Results: There were no negative side effects from the PMC formulation. The antioxidant group had significantly higher scores on sensory organization, dynamic posturography and exercise tolerance at each study time point (P values by Students t-test). The antioxidant group also had higher scores in all the other measures.

In summary, the PMC formulation is a unique, proprietary micronutrient combination based on the highest level of antioxidant science. It has been studied under Congressional funding with federal laboratories and military institutes and has been shown to be effective against oxidative damage from several sources. The potential benefits of this strategy could positively affect individuals in many occupational settings and lays the ground work for preventive supplementation as well as micronutrient use as an adjunct to disease treatment and to improve the quality of life.