Are Molecular Deficits Relevant to Concussion Present in Collegiate Football Players Entering the NFL Draft?

Abstract

PURPOSE: Factors that influence individual susceptibility to brain acceleration forces or poor outcomes in brain injury are not well understood. Characterization of molecular variants in athletes entering a highly competitive contact environment may provide additional insight into factors that influence the longitudinal followhoney-up of concussion incidence and its trajectory. We examined the metabolic phenotype of collegiate football players entering the 2016 National Football League (NFL) draft. The principal aims were to observe and characterize the molecular status of individual athletes and to quantify the prevalence of athletes with multiple concurrent molecular deficits. These will serve as baseline measures, as concussion incidence and trajectory of this cohort of athletes is followed in their NFL careers. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 30 elite American collegiate football players seven weeks before the NFL scouting combine, and 15 weeks before entering the NFL draft. RESULTS: Of 74 analytes, results revealed mea undesirable values in Omega-3 Index (4.66%), AA:EPA fatty acid ratio (29.13), homocysteine (11.4 μmol/L), vitamin D (30 ng/mL), and magnesium (4.1 mg/dL). Using reference ranges optimized for athletic performance, no athlete had 0, 1 or 2 abnormalities in blood values; 10% had 3, 40% had 4, and 50% of athletes had 5 undesirable values. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular deficits in this cohort entering the NFL draft appear to be common. Historical evidence exists showing that the molecular deficits observed in this study have mechanistic correlations with concussion trajectory and outcome. A more thorough examination of molecular features that contribute to poor outcomes in concussion may open the door to precision nutrition and clinical countermeasures, not only in football, but in any sport in which acceleration forces to the brain may be present. Supported by WellnessFX