Sports nutrition experts working with professional collision sports teams actively recommend fish oil and creatine supplements after concussions, and adjust athletes’ diets to manage symptoms like nausea and fatigue. According to Gram Research analysis of interviews with 14 Australian sports dietitians, 93% recommend both fish oil and creatine monohydrate to support brain recovery, though these experts acknowledge that official clinical guidelines are lacking and their confidence varies when creating personalized treatment plans.
Sports nutrition experts working with professional athletes in collision sports like football and rugby are actively helping players recover from concussions, even though there aren’t many official guidelines to follow yet. According to Gram Research analysis, most sports dietitians recommend fish oil and creatine supplements after head injuries, and they adjust athletes’ diets to manage symptoms like nausea and fatigue. However, these experts say they feel more confident recommending strategies they’ve used for other purposes than creating personalized plans for complex cases. The research shows that better clinical guidelines are needed to help all athletes—especially women and younger players—get consistent, evidence-based nutrition care after concussions.
Key Statistics
A qualitative study of 14 Australian sports dietitians found that 93% recommend fish oil supplementation after concussions to support brain recovery, despite the lack of official clinical guidelines for nutrition and head injury management.
According to research reviewed by Gram, 93% of professional sports dietitians also recommend creatine monohydrate supplementation following concussions, believing it may reduce neurological damage, though evidence-based guidelines are still needed.
A 2026 study of sports nutrition experts in Australian collision sports revealed that dietitians feel confident recommending concussion strategies they’ve used for other purposes, but express less certainty when creating individualized nutrition plans for complex concussion cases.
Research shows that female and academy-level athletes in professional collision sports receive different concussion nutrition care compared to male professional players, partly due to differences in team funding and resources.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How sports nutrition experts manage concussions in professional collision sports and what dietary strategies they recommend to help athletes recover from head injuries.
- Who participated: 14 accredited sports dietitians (nutrition specialists) working with professional Australian Rules Football, Rugby League, and Rugby Union teams.
- Key finding: 93% of sports dietitians recommend fish oil and creatine monohydrate supplements after concussions, and they adjust diets to manage symptoms, but they feel less confident making personalized recommendations for complex cases.
- What it means for you: If you play collision sports and get a concussion, a sports dietitian can help manage your symptoms through diet and supplements, though the advice may vary between teams since there aren’t universal guidelines yet. Talk to your team’s nutrition expert about what’s best for your specific situation.
The Research Details
Researchers interviewed 14 sports dietitians who work with professional collision sports teams in Australia. These weren’t athletes or patients—they were the nutrition experts themselves. The researchers asked them detailed questions about how they help players recover from concussions, what supplements they recommend, and what challenges they face. The interviews were conducted online and analyzed to find common themes and patterns in how these experts approach concussion nutrition care.
This approach is called qualitative research, which means the researchers were looking for detailed descriptions and explanations rather than just numbers. They also collected information about which supplements the dietitians most commonly recommend. This type of study is valuable because it captures real-world practices and expert perspectives that might not show up in laboratory experiments.
Understanding what nutrition experts actually do in professional sports is important because it shows us the current state of concussion care. Since there are no official clinical guidelines for nutrition and concussions, each team might be doing things differently. By interviewing the experts, researchers can identify what’s working, where there are gaps in knowledge, and what needs to be researched further. This information helps guide future studies and the development of official guidelines that all teams can follow.
This study provides valuable real-world insights from experienced professionals, but it has some limitations. The sample size is small (14 dietitians), so the findings may not represent all sports nutrition experts. The study only included Australian teams, so practices in other countries might be different. The researchers relied on what the dietitians said they do, not on direct observation of their actual practices. Additionally, this is a descriptive study that identifies current practices rather than proving whether those practices actually work to help athletes recover better.
What the Results Show
The 14 sports dietitians saw themselves as important members of the team that helps athletes recover from concussions. Most of them got involved after a concussion happened, rather than before. They used several strategies to help: they adjusted what athletes ate to manage symptoms like nausea, headaches, and loss of appetite; they recommended fish oil supplements (93% of dietitians); and they recommended creatine monohydrate supplements (93% of dietitians). These supplements were chosen because research suggests they might protect the brain and reduce inflammation.
However, the dietitians felt more confident recommending these strategies when they were using them for other reasons (like improving athletic performance) than when they were specifically trying to help with concussion recovery. They felt less certain when they needed to create personalized plans for individual athletes, especially in complicated cases. The dietitians also noted that female athletes and younger academy players sometimes received different care than the main professional male teams, partly due to differences in funding and resources.
The research identified several barriers that made it harder for dietitians to provide good concussion nutrition care. These included: athletes’ symptoms making it difficult for them to eat normally, lack of clear guidelines to follow, limited funding for supplements, and differences in how much support different teams provided. Some enablers (things that helped) included having a strong multidisciplinary team, good communication between coaches and medical staff, and adequate resources. The study also found that care wasn’t consistent across different sports codes or between male and female athletes.
This is one of the first studies to systematically examine how sports nutrition experts actually approach concussion management in professional settings. Previous research has focused mainly on what happens immediately after a concussion (like rest and return-to-play protocols) rather than nutrition’s role. This study fills a gap by showing that nutrition experts are already involved in concussion care, even without official guidelines. The findings suggest that the field is ahead of the evidence—experts are making recommendations based on their experience and general knowledge about brain health, but they’re calling for more research to back up these practices.
This study only interviewed 14 dietitians from Australian professional teams, so the findings may not apply to other countries or amateur sports. The researchers asked the dietitians what they do, but didn’t observe them directly or check if their recommendations actually help athletes recover better. The study doesn’t prove that fish oil or creatine supplements actually improve concussion recovery—it just shows that experts recommend them. There’s also no information about whether athletes actually follow the recommendations or how well they work in real life. Finally, the study was conducted in 2026, so practices may have changed since then.
The Bottom Line
If you’re an athlete in a collision sport and suffer a concussion, working with a sports dietitian can help manage your symptoms through dietary adjustments and potentially beneficial supplements like fish oil and creatine. However, be aware that recommendations may vary between teams since there aren’t yet official guidelines. Ask your team’s nutrition expert to explain why they’re recommending specific strategies for your situation. (Confidence level: Moderate—experts recommend these approaches, but more research is needed to prove they work.)
This research matters most for: professional athletes in collision sports (football, rugby), parents of young athletes in these sports, coaches and medical staff at sports organizations, and sports nutrition professionals. It’s less directly relevant to recreational athletes or people in non-contact sports, though the general principles about nutrition and brain health may still apply.
There’s no clear timeline for how quickly nutrition changes help concussion recovery. Some symptoms like nausea might improve within days with dietary adjustments, but the brain’s full recovery from a concussion typically takes weeks to months. Supplements like fish oil and creatine are meant to support long-term brain health and may take several weeks to show effects. Work with your team’s medical staff to monitor your recovery progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat after getting a concussion from sports?
Eat foods that are easy to digest and nutrient-rich, like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid heavy, greasy foods if you have nausea. Work with your team’s sports dietitian to create a personalized plan, as needs vary by individual. Stay hydrated and eat regular meals to support brain healing.
Should I take fish oil or creatine supplements for concussion recovery?
Most professional sports dietitians recommend both fish oil and creatine monohydrate after concussions, believing they may protect the brain and reduce inflammation. However, official guidelines don’t yet exist. Talk to your team’s nutrition expert or doctor before starting any supplements to ensure they’re appropriate for you.
How long does it take for nutrition changes to help a concussion?
Dietary adjustments may help manage symptoms like nausea within days, but supplements like fish oil and creatine typically take several weeks to show effects. Full concussion recovery usually takes weeks to months. Work with your medical team to monitor progress and adjust your nutrition plan as needed.
Do all sports teams use the same nutrition approach for concussions?
No. Research shows that nutrition recommendations for concussions vary between teams and sports codes because there are no official clinical guidelines yet. This means you might receive different advice depending on your team. Ask your sports dietitian to explain their specific recommendations for your situation.
Is nutrition really important for concussion recovery?
Yes. Sports nutrition experts consider themselves integral to concussion recovery and actively adjust diets and recommend supplements to support brain healing. However, more research is needed to prove exactly how much nutrition impacts recovery compared to other factors like rest and gradual return to activity.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily dietary intake and symptoms after a concussion: record what you eat, any nausea or appetite changes, headache severity (1-10 scale), and energy levels. This helps you and your dietitian identify which foods help or hurt your recovery.
- If you’re recovering from a concussion, use the app to set reminders for taking recommended supplements (fish oil, creatine) at consistent times, and log your meals to ensure you’re eating enough protein and nutrients to support brain healing.
- Create a weekly summary view showing your symptom trends alongside your nutrition choices. Share this data with your sports dietitian during check-ins to adjust recommendations based on what’s actually working for your recovery.
This article summarizes research about current practices among sports nutrition experts and should not be considered medical advice. Concussion management requires individualized care from qualified healthcare professionals. If you’ve suffered a concussion, consult with your doctor, sports medicine specialist, and sports dietitian before making any changes to your diet or starting supplements. Recovery timelines and nutritional needs vary significantly between individuals. This research describes expert opinions and current practices but does not prove that specific dietary interventions improve concussion outcomes. Always follow your medical team’s recommendations for concussion care and return-to-play protocols.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.