Condition

Stroke

A stroke happens when a blocked or burst blood vessel cuts off blood flow to part of the brain, starving cells of oxygen. Among supplements, B vitamins and zinc have the best-supported results: stroke risk was slightly lower with B vitamins in longer trials in places without folate-fortified food, and thinking skills improved with zinc in a small trial. The evidence is limited, though, and the zinc result came from just 26 people.

Sources: PMID 19761652

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
1 study cited
Stroke protocol

Supplements studied: 13
Graded outcomes: 9
Trials: 11
People studied: 425,176

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

13 supplements

Phenylpiracetam

Phenylpiracetam: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	2 studies	400 people
Studies that measured cognition The efficacy of phenotropil in the complex treatment of epilepsyZh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova · PMID 18646385 Phenotropil in the treatment of vascular encephalopathyZh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova · PMID 16608112
	Functionality in Elderly or Injured Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		400 people
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	400 people
Studies that measured stroke recovery [Efficacy of phenotropil in the rehabilitation of stroke patients]Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova · PMID 21626817

Zinc

Zinc: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	26 people
Studies that measured cognition Normalization of zinc intake enhances neurological retrieval of patients suffering from ischemic strokesNutr Neurosci · PMID 19761652
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)			26 people

Nefiracetam

Apathy: improves
Depression Symptoms: improves
Stroke Recovery: improves

Nefiracetam: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Apathy Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	137 people
Studies that measured apathy Double-blind treatment of apathy in patients with poststroke depression using nefiracetamJ Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · PMID 19622685
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			137 people
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)			137 people

B Vitamins

Stroke Risk: improves

B Vitamins: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Stroke Risk Meta-analysis: RR 0.93 (0.86-1.00, p=0.04); benefit with ≥3 years follow-up, no folate fortification	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		47,921 people

Vitamin B12

Depression Symptoms
Fatigue Symptoms: improves
Stroke Recovery: improves

Vitamin B12: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Depression Symptoms No effect		NoneNo effect	2 studies	14 people
Studies that measured depression symptoms Effects of Vitamin B12 Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Depressive Symptoms, and Fatigue: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression.Nutrients · PMID 33809274 Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of folate and vitamin B12 for depression.Int Psychogeriatr · PMID 25644193
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	14 people
Studies that measured fatigue symptoms Effects of vitamin B12 supplementation on cognition, depression, and fatigue in patients with lacunar strokeInt Psychogeriatr · PMID 23158866
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)			14 people

Vitamin E

All-Cause Mortality
C-Reactive Protein (CRP): improves
Stroke Risk: changes; see studies

Vitamin E: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	All-Cause Mortality No effect		NoneNo effect	2 studies	39,876 people
Studies that measured all-cause mortality Vitamin E in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer: the Women's Health Study: a randomized controlled trialJAMA · PMID 15998891 Vitamin E supplementation and cataract: randomized controlled trialOphthalmology · PMID 14711717
	C-Reactive Protein (CRP)	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	39 people
Studies that measured c-reactive protein (crp) Effects of gamma-tocopherol supplementation on thrombotic risk factorsAsia Pac J Clin Nutr · PMID 17704022 The effect of vitamin E on endothelial function of micro- and macrocirculation and left ventricular function in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patientsDiabetes · PMID 15616030
	Stroke Risk	Changes; see studies		2 studies	148,016 people
Studies that measured stroke risk Effects of vitamin E on stroke: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.Stroke Vasc Neurol · PMID 33109618 Effects of vitamin E on stroke subtypes: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ · PMID 21051774
	Total cholesterol	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	39 people
Studies that measured total cholesterol Pioglitazone, vitamin E, or placebo for nonalcoholic steatohepatitisN Engl J Med · PMID 20427778 Plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 level and efficacy of alpha-tocopherol in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a pilot studyAliment Pharmacol Ther · PMID 11564008
	Triglycerides	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	39 people
Studies that measured triglycerides Study on the effect of megavitamin E supplementation in manAm J Clin Nutr · PMID 347918 Megavitamin E supplementation in manAm J Clin Nutr · PMID 803000
	Cardiovascular Disease Mortality	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	39,876 people
	High-density lipoprotein (HDL)	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	39 people
	Cell Adhesion Factors	Improves (the measure goes down)			39 people
	Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)	Improves (the measure goes down)			78 people
	Platelet Aggregation	Changes; see studies			39 people

Saffron

Beta-cell function
Blood glucose: improves
Blood Pressure: improves

Saffron: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Beta-cell function No effect		NoneNo effect		66 people
	Blood glucose	Improves (the measure goes down)		6 studies	66 people
Studies that measured blood glucose Effects of Crocus sativus on glycemic control and cardiometabolic parameters among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Nutr Metab · PMID 38796446 The effect of hydroalcoholic Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) extract on fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, liver, and renal function tests in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double-blind clinical trialPhytother Res · PMID 30942510 Effects of Cinnamon, Cardamom, Saffron, and Ginger Consumption on Markers of Glycemic Control, Lipid Profile, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes PatientsRev Diabet Stud · PMID 26177486 and 3 more on the Saffron page
	Blood Pressure	Improves (the measure goes down)		3 studies	66 people
Studies that measured blood pressure Protective properties of the aqueous extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in ischemic stroke, randomized clinical trialJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 30914350 The effects of saffron supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysisFront Nutr · PMID 36570145 An evaluation of the effects of saffron supplementation on the asthma clinical symptoms and asthma severity in patients with mild and moderate persistent allergic asthma: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trialRespir Res · PMID 30795753
	Triglycerides	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	66 people
Studies that measured triglycerides Saffron and crocin improved appetite, dietary intakes and body composition in patients with coronary artery diseaseJ Cardiovasc Thorac Res · PMID 29391933 The effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A triple-blinded randomized clinical trialJ Res Med Sci · PMID 29531568
	High-density lipoprotein (HDL)	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	66 people
Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl) The effect of saffron on weight and lipid profile: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and dose-response of randomized clinical trialsPhytother Res · PMID 31264281
	Insulin	Changes; see studies			66 people
	Insulin Resistance	Improves (the measure goes down)			66 people
	Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)	Improves (the measure goes down)			66 people
	Total cholesterol	Improves (the measure goes down)			66 people
	Waist circumference	Improves (the measure goes down)			66 people

Fish Oil

Apolipoprotein B
Triglycerides: improves
High-density lipoprotein (HDL): improves

Fish Oil: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Apolipoprotein B No effect		NoneNo effect		102 people
	Triglycerides	Improves (the measure goes down)		24 studies	102 people
Studies that measured triglycerides Effects of a Small Quantity of omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in NIDDM. A Randomized, Prospective, Double-Blind, Controlled StudyDiabetes Care · PMID 8112187 Benefits of fish oil supplementation in hyperlipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysisInt J Cardiol · PMID 18774613 Efficacy and tolerability of adding prescription omega-3 fatty acids 4 g/d to simvastatin 40 mg/d in hypertriglyceridemic patients: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyClin Ther · PMID 17825687 and 21 more on the Fish Oil page
	High-density lipoprotein (HDL)	Improves (the measure goes up)		7 studies	102 people
Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl) Combined effects of aerobic exercise and omega-3 fatty acids in hyperlipidemic personsMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 2691812 Dietary fish oil decreases C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and triacylglycerol to HDL-cholesterol ratio in postmenopausal women on HRTJ Nutr Biochem · PMID 14505813 Supplementation with omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and all-rac alpha-tocopherol alone and in combination failed to exert an anti-inflammatory effect in human volunteersMetabolism · PMID 14767877 and 4 more on the Fish Oil page
	C-Reactive Protein (CRP)	Improves (the measure goes down)		4 studies	102 people
Studies that measured c-reactive protein (crp) Intake of n-3 fatty acids from fish does not lower serum concentrations of C-reactive protein in healthy subjectsEur J Clin Nutr · PMID 15100717 The effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids on serum concentrations of C-reactive protein: a dose-response studyBr J Nutr · PMID 12654170 Effect of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on markers of platelet and endothelial function in patients with peripheral arterial diseaseAtherosclerosis · PMID 22296885 and 1 more on the Fish Oil page
	Inflammation	Improves (the measure goes down)		4 studies	102 people
Studies that measured inflammation Effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids on serum systemic and vascular inflammation markers and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patientsAnn Nutr Metab · PMID 21757893 Influence of very long-chain n-3 fatty acids on plasma markers of inflammation in middle-aged menProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids · PMID 18403189 Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on postprandial triglycerides and monocyte activationAtherosclerosis · PMID 23017356 and 1 more on the Fish Oil page
	LDL Oxidation	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	102 people
	Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	102 people
	Total cholesterol	Improves (the measure goes down)			102 people

Vitamin C

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: improves

Vitamin C: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Oxidative Stress Biomarkers	Improves (the measure goes down)		5 studies	60 people
Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers Vitamin C supplementation lowers urinary levels of 4-hydroperoxy-2-nonenal metabolites in humansFree Radic Biol Med · PMID 21236333 High dosage of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol is not useful for diminishing oxidative stress and DNA damage in healthy elderly adultsAnn Nutr Metab · PMID 18446021 Orange juice ingestion and supplemental vitamin C are equally effective at reducing plasma lipid peroxidation in healthy adult womenJ Am Coll Nutr · PMID 14684757 and 2 more on the Vitamin C page

Ginkgo Biloba

Stroke Recovery: improves

Ginkgo Biloba: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	430 people
Studies that measured stroke recovery Ginkgo biloba for acute ischaemic strokeCochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 16235335

Piracetam

Stroke Recovery: improves

Piracetam: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	30 people
Studies that measured stroke recovery Does long term use of piracetam improve speech disturbances due to ischemic cerebrovascular diseasesBrain Lang · PMID 21227483

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

Stroke Risk: changes; see studies

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Stroke Risk	Changes; see studies		1 study	115,559 people
Studies that measured stroke risk Folic acid supplementation for stroke prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized clinical trials worldwide.Clin Nutr · PMID 38824900

Astragalus

Stroke Recovery: improves

Astragalus: outcomes studied for Stroke
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Stroke Recovery	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	68 people

Key findings

CognitionPhenylpiracetamImproves (the measure goes up)
ApathyNefiracetamImproves (the measure goes down)
Stroke RiskB VitaminsImproves (the measure goes down)

The Stroke Recovery Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements

Omega-3 Fatty Acids2–4 g EPA+DHA daily
Citicoline (CDP-Choline)500–2,000 mg daily

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Stroke. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

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Studies cited

1 study from PubMed

Effect of dual task-based training on motor and cognitive function in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails.BMC Neurol · PMID 40660174

Evidence by supplement

Key findings

The Stroke Recovery Support protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related conditions

Supplement stack for Stroke