Sulforaphane: Broccoli Sprout Compound, Studies, Safety
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[Supplement · Compound guide]

Sulforaphane: half-life, strengths and approval status

Amounts studied · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is sulforaphane?

Sulforaphane is a sulfur compound that forms from glucoraphanin in broccoli and broccoli sprouts when the enzyme myrosinase acts on it. As a supplement it is marketed for its effect on the body's antioxidant defenses (the Nrf2 pathway), and it has been studied in people with autism, among other conditions.

Also known as: broccoli sprout extract, glucoraphanin.

Amounts studied

Sulforaphane has no intake value or upper limit, and there is no NIH fact sheet for it. The 2014 autism trial (Singh) used 50 to 150 micromoles a day of sulforaphane from broccoli sprout extract, by body weight. Many supplements contain glucoraphanin (the precursor) with or without myrosinase, so how much sulforaphane forms differs between products (Yagishita 2019). These are study protocols, not a recommendation.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. There is no FDA-approved sulforaphane drug.

In a placebo-controlled trial of 44 young men aged 13 to 27 with moderate to severe autism (Singh 2014), behavior scores improved with sulforaphane over 18 weeks and moved back toward baseline after it was stopped. A larger 15-week trial in 57 children aged 3 to 12 (Zimmerman 2021) found no significant difference from placebo on its main measure, though one caregiver-rated scale improved; sulforaphane was well tolerated, with rare insomnia, irritability and dislike of the taste and smell.

A 2019 review (Yagishita) notes that more than 50 clinical trials have studied sulforaphane or glucoraphanin, and that the form (fresh sprouts, extracts, beverages or supplements) changes how much sulforaphane the body gets. If you are considering it for a child or alongside medicines, ask a clinician first.

Sulforaphane half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for sulforaphane that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. How much is absorbed depends on whether the product contains active myrosinase (Yagishita 2019).

How to track sulforaphane in Dose Track

  1. Add sulforaphane as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)N-acetylcysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine GlutathioneGSH, reduced glutathione DIM (Diindolylmethane)diindolylmethane, 3,3'-diindolylmethane

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of sulforaphane?+
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for sulforaphane that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. How much is absorbed depends on whether the product contains active myrosinase (Yagishita 2019).
Is sulforaphane the same as broccoli sprout extract?+
Not exactly. Broccoli sprouts contain glucoraphanin, which turns into sulforaphane when the enzyme myrosinase acts on it (in the plant or by gut bacteria). A 2019 review (Yagishita) says products differ in whether they contain sulforaphane itself, glucoraphanin, or glucoraphanin plus myrosinase, which changes how much sulforaphane you get.
Does sulforaphane help autism?+
Results are mixed. A 2014 trial in 44 young men found improved behavior scores, but a 2021 trial in 57 children found no significant difference from placebo on its main measure. Talk with your child's clinician before trying it.
Can I track sulforaphane in Dose Track?+
Yes. Sulforaphane is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Yagishita Y, et al. Broccoli or sulforaphane: is it the source or dose that matters? Molecules. 2019;24(19):3593.
  2. Singh K, et al. Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014;111(43):15550-15555.
  3. Zimmerman AW, et al. Randomized controlled trial of sulforaphane and metabolite discovery in children with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Autism. 2021;12(1):38.
  4. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

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