Broccoli and sulforaphane are widely discussed, and rightly so!
Much has been written, and well, about broccoli and the health effects of this vegetable and the compound sulforaphane, and rightly so. Sulforaphane has a number of exciting health effects, including the following:
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory: Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation. Relieves symptoms of autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Cancer prevention and treatment: Inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Inhibits cancer cells, activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway to protect cells. Promising for prostate, breast, lung, colon, and skin cancer.
- Cardiovascular health: Improves blood pressure regulation and reduces arteriosclerosis. Reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, improves blood vessel function and cholesterol levels.
- Neuroprotection: Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain.
- Diabetes and metabolic syndrome: Improves glucose metabolism and reduces risk factors.
- Autism: Improves symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), reduces oxidative stress, and improves communication between brain cells.’
- Osteoporosis: Strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis, increases collagen production for bone formation.
- Detoxification: Stimulates detoxification enzymes in the liver, protects against oxidative stress, increased protection against oxidative stress, and better elimination of toxins
How to achieve an effective dosage?
The challenge with sulforaphane is now to obtain a sufficient dose in order to achieve clinical effects. In various medical studies, 20 mg to 100 mg of active substance per day has often been used. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts, contrary to what many believe, do not sulforaphane, but glucoraphanin (a precursor) and when it comes into contact with the enzyme myrosinase (which is present in broccoli), some sulforaphane will be formed (the exact amount depends on several factors and the environment in the gut). The same applies, so to speak, to all sulforaphane supplements on the market; there are only two manufacturers in the world that produce supplements which actually deliver sulforaphane in dosages shown to be effective. One of the manufacturers available in Europe is MCS Formulas with their product Broccoli Ultra, Sulforaphane. Broccoli Ultra is the supplement with the most sulforaphane per capsule compared with other available products. One dose (2 capsules) corresponds to approx. 750 mg of sulforaphane glucosinolate. The product provides 30 mg of sulforaphane. This is the highest sulforaphane content in any supplement in the world. By comparison, various manufacturers state that their supplements, from the precursor glucoraphanin, are expected to convert to sulforaphane in the range of 7.5 mg per capsule. Looking at the relationship between price and effect, Broccoli Ultra from MCS Formulas is unique compared with all the supplements we have seen.
Can’t we just eat broccoli and broccoli sprouts then?
Both are obviously very healthy and health-promoting vegetables, but for sulforaphane to form they should be nearly raw, and even then only small amounts may be converted. In other words, you would need to eat a great deal of “almost” raw broccoli and/or broccoli sprouts. Therefore, supplementation is recommended to achieve the best effect and the effects documented in studies.
Research links:
sulforafan,
Sulforaphane
