How Sulforaphane from Broccoli Sprouts Can Reduce Autism Symptoms

What Is Sulforaphane?

Sulforaphane, a natural substance found in broccoli sprouts, continues to generate interest in the scientific and integrative-medicine communities for its ability to improve symptoms of autism, at least in some children.

Sulforaphane is a natural plant compound classified as an isothiocyanate. It’s formed when glucoraphanin, a substance found in cruciferous vegetables (especially broccoli sprouts), is activated by the enzyme myrosinase, usually through chewing or chopping. Broccoli sprouts, in particular, contain up to 100 times more glucoraphanin than mature broccoli, making them an especially rich source of sulforaphane.

Why does this matter? Sulforaphane has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification-promoting effects—three key areas that are often out of balance in children with autism.

How Might Sulforaphane Help Children with Autism?

Emerging research suggests that sulforaphane may positively influence several biological systems that are commonly dysregulated in autism, including:

Oxidative Stress: Many children with autism have been shown to have higher levels of oxidative stress, essentially, internal “rust” from harmful free radicals. Sulforaphane activates the body’s natural antioxidant defense system, including a pathway called Nrf2, which helps the body neutralize these free radicals.
Detoxification: Sulforaphane supports phase II detoxification in the liver, which helps the body eliminate environmental toxins, something that is often impaired in children with autism.
Neuroinflammation: Inflammation in the brain, known as neuroinflammation, has been documented in many children with autism. Sulforaphane has shown promise in reducing inflammation markers, which can potentially help regulate brain function.
Mitochondrial Function: Mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of our cells. Sulforaphane has been shown to improve mitochondrial dysfunction, which may support brain energy metabolism and overall neurological health.
Epigenetic Regulation: Fascinatingly, sulforaphane may influence how genes are expressed, essentially turning some genes on or off, which could play a role in restoring balance to disrupted biological pathways in autism.

What Does the Research Say?

One of the most compelling studies on sulforaphane and autism was conducted in 2014 and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 44 males with moderate to severe autism, ages 13 to 27. Participants who received sulforaphane (from broccoli sprout extract) showed significant improvements in behavior, social interaction, and verbal communication. Improvements in symptoms began to appear within 4 weeks and peaked around 18 weeks. Once treatment was stopped, many participants began to regress – suggesting a real and reversible effect. Since then, other studies and anecdotal reports have echoed these results (see Sources & References, below).

How Is Sulforaphane Given?

Sulforaphane can be provided in a few different ways:

Fresh Broccoli Sprouts: These are the most natural and nutrient-rich source, but consistency in dosage can be challenging.
Broccoli Sprout Extract Supplements: These offer a more standardized dose of glucoraphanin and/or sulforaphane. Some also include sources of myrosinase (e.g., moringa, broccoli seed and mustard seed) to ensure proper activation. Myrosinase is required to convert glucoraphanin to sulforaphane.
Sulforaphane Precursors: Some supplements contain stabilized forms of sulforaphane or its precursors, designed for better bioavailability. However, this is largely hypothetical, and sulforaphane itself is highly unstable.

If you are considering supplementation for your child, it is important to work with a knowledgeable practitioner especially to ensure safety, appropriate dosing, and monitoring.

Is Sulforaphane Safe?

In the studies conducted so far, sulforaphane has been well-tolerated, with only minor side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort in a few participants. However, as with any supplement, individual reactions can vary. Children who are on medications or have complex medical conditions should always be evaluated before introducing any new intervention.

Conclusion

Sulforaphane is one of many evidence-based tools that may support your child’s healing journey, but it is likely not a silver bullet in the healing process. Instead, we recommend that you correct the root causes and stressors of your child’s diagnosis with the help of knowledgeable practitioners that can also introduce therapies and supports that lower your child’s total load.

About Chris D'Adamo PhD

Dr. Chris D'Adamo is the Scientific Director and Principal Investigator at Documenting Hope. He is an epidemiologist with expertise in the relationship between modifiable lifestyle factors and human health across the lifespan. Dr. D’Adamo received his PhD in Epidemiology in 2010 from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is currently an Assistant Professor with dual appointments in the Departments of Family & Community Medicine and Epidemiology & Public Health. He serves as the Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the first academic-based integrative medicine center in the United States with an over 30-year history that has collectively published over 1,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers and received over $50 million of competitive research funding.

Dr. D’Adamo has served as Principal Investigator on many clinical trials and observational studies and authored over 70 publications in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals including Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition Research, American Journal of Health Promotion, Journal of Nutrition, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Nutrients, Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviewsamong many others. Dr. D’Adamo is also a Fellow at the Nova Institute for Health and Senior Research Advisor to the Institute for Functional Medicine. He is a co-author of Reversal of Autism Symptoms among Dizygotic Twins through a Personalized Lifestyle and Environmental Modification Approach: A Case Report and Review of the Literature, J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 641.

About Julia White MacMillan

Julia White MacMillan is the Partnerships Director at Documenting Hope. She is an innovative business, marketing, and product leader with over 30 years of experience working for both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups companies. Julia has distinguished performance of driving revenue growth, leading strategic initiatives, and launching marketing and product-based processes to accelerate loyalty and utilization. She was most recently an SVP with SoulBeing, a start-up company focusing on providing access to integrative practitioners, where she led the planning, development and execution of product development and provider recruiting. Julia has extensive experience in creating and maximizing collaborative partnerships. Julia has held a variety of senior roles overseeing partnerships, business development, and marketing at Upromise, Bank of America and MBNA America. Julia is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Maine.

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