Superoxide Dismutase as Biomarker to Curtail Redox Unbalance and Improve Trunk Performance in Post-Stroke Patients After Neurorehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

Umar, Abdulkareem Muhammad; Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff; Ahmad, Aisha Ahmad; Raj, Naresh Bhaskar

Stroke survivors often suffer significant neurovascular and homeostatic disruptions due to oxidative stress, which exacerbates brain damage and impairs postural stability. The imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants, particularly following ischemic stroke, increases the production of free radicals like reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, while depleting endogenous antioxidants. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzymatic antioxidant, has the potential to mitigate this oxidative damage. This review aimed to explore the role of SOD as a biomarker and therapeutic target in improving trunk control and postural stability in stroke patients after rehabilitation. A comprehensive search of five databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane Central) for full-text English studies published between 2012 and 2024 identified five relevant articles. Although the available studies indicated significant differences in serum SOD levels among stroke patients post-intervention, the review highlighted a substantial research gap, emphasizing the limited evidence on SOD's role in post-stroke rehabilitation. These findings underscore the need for further research to explore the potential of SOD in enhancing rehabilitation outcomes for stroke survivors. Future studies focusing on key biomarkers like SOD could provide neuro-rehabilitation specialists with a better understanding of therapeutic mechanisms and guide the development of more effective rehabilitation programs.

SUPEROXIDE dismutase; REACTIVE nitrogen species; STROKE patients; REACTIVE oxygen species; ISCHEMIC stroke

Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences, 2024, Vol 20, p273

1675-8544

Academic Journal

10.47836/mjmhs.20.s10.31