Chemical Derived From Broccoli Sprout Extract Could Help Treat Autism

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 68 children suffer from autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and the diagnoses are on the rise. For reasons still unknown, the disease tends to affect more boys than girls. There is no official cure, but scientists have found hope in one particular vegetable.

A small study has shown that a chemical compound called sulforaphane, which is derived from broccoli sprouts, can ease the classic symptoms associated with ASD.

How Does Autism Affect Your Health?

Those who suffer from autism have biochemical and molecular abnormalities that affect the energy generation of cells. They often have high levels of oxidative stress, which is the buildup of toxins in the body that can cause inflammation, DNA damage, cancer, and a variety of other chronic diseases.

Autism has behavioral symptoms that include poor social interaction skills, poor verbal communication skills, an inability to relate to others, and repetitive, ritualistic behaviors. It is not uncommon for those with autism to experience irritability, lethargy, hyperactivity, as well as poor mannerisms and awareness.

Sensory sensitivity is also a symptom of autism i.e. bright lights and loud noises.

More About This Breakthrough Study

The 18-week study was conducted by scientists at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The participants consisted of 40 teenage boys and young men, ages 13 to 27, with moderate to severe autism. 26 of the subjects were randomly selected to receive 9 to 27 milligrams of sulforaphane daily, (a compound found in broccoli sprouts,) depending on the patient’s weight. The other 14 patients were given a placebo.

The researchers had behavioral assessments at four, 10 and 18 weeks during the treatment, and a final assessment four weeks after the treatment had stopped.

The results? Most of the patients who took sulforaphane showed significant behavioral improvements after four weeks and continued to improve for the rest of the treatment. Researchers saw an 18 to 34 percent decrease in the behavioral symptoms of the sulforaphane receivers.

Unfortunately, the positive effects of sulforaphane seem to be temporary. Once the patients have stopped taking this chemical, they revert back to their original behavioral patterns.

What You Need to Know About Sulforaphane

Broccoli sprouts aren’t the only vegetables that can give you sulforaphane. You can also find this chemical compound in cabbage and cauliflower. Sulforaphane is most commonly used to fight prostate cancer and other forms of cancer because of its ability to kill cancerous cells.

How does sulforaphane help the autistic patient? Around half of the parents of autistic children notice behavioral improvements when their children have a fever. Once the fever is gone, the behavioral issues return.

Researchers credit this temporary improvement to the heat-shock that a fever gives the body. Sulforaphane initiates the same heat-shock response in the body and thus has the same positive, though temporary effects on autistic patients.

Now, although sulforaphane precursors are found in broccoli sprouts, the levels vary, and the capacity of individuals to convert these precursors to sulforaphane vary greatly as well. In summary, it would be very difficult to achieve the levels of sulforaphane used in this study simply by eating large amounts of broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables. A supplement or extract would most likely be needed.

You could also try juicing raw broccoli sprouts to get a more concentrated dosage.

Additional Health Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are a great addition to any salad or sandwich. They can also serve has a healthy side dish. Broccoli sprouts have been shown to combat a variety of health issues including:

Hypertension

Osteoarthritis
Cancer
Diabetes

Heart Disease
Allergies
Ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori

UV radiation damage to skin (when applied topically)

In addition to all these health benefits, broccoli sprout has been shown to combat exposure to environmental pollutants.

A three-month long study was conducted with 300 Chinese men and women in one of the most polluted areas in China. The test group drank half a cup of a beverage consisting of sterilized water, pineapple, lime juice and freeze-dried broccoli sprout powder. The control group drank the same mixture…minus the broccoli sprouts.

Urine and blood tests revealed that the test group that consumed the broccoli sprout excreted far greater levels of carcinogens than those who did not consume the broccoli sprout.

Broccoli or broccoli sprouts?

If you don’t like broccoli, there’s good news. Broccoli sprouts are easily superior to mature broccoli in terms of nutrient density, which means you don’t have to eat as much of it to reap many of its health benefits.

Broccoli sprouts have 10 to 100 times the amount of a cancer-fighting compound called glucoraphanin than mature broccoli. It’s a great alternative if you don’t like the smell or taste of broccoli!

You’ve probably seen broccoli sprouts as an ingredient option to your sandwich/wrap, but never really knew what it was. Now you do, so take advantage of it’s health benefits! Broccoli sprout is also pretty easy to grow at home!