Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by both impaired communication and social interaction, and by stereotypic behavior, affects about 1 in 68, predominantly males. The medicoeconomic burdens of ASD are enormous, and no recognized treatment targets the core features of ASD. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, young men (aged 13-27) with moderate to severe ASD received the phytochemical sulforaphane (n = 29)-derived from broccoli sprout extracts-or indistinguishable placebo (n = 15). The effects on behavior of daily oral doses of sulforaphane (50-150 μmol) for 18 wk, followed by 4 wk without treatment, were quantified by three widely accepted behavioral measures completed by parents/caregivers and physicians: the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI-I). Initial scores for ABC and SRS were closely matched for participants assigned to placebo and sulforaphane. After 18 wk, participants receiving placebo experienced minimal change (<3.3%), whereas those receiving sulforaphane showed substantial declines (improvement of behavior): 34% for ABC (P < 0.001, comparing treatments) and 17% for SRS scores (P = 0.017). On CGI-I, a significantly greater number of participants receiving sulforaphane had improvement in social interaction, abnormal behavior, and verbal communication (P = 0.015-0.007). Upon discontinuation of sulforaphane, total scores on all scales rose toward pretreatment levels. Dietary sulforaphane, of recognized low toxicity, was selected for its capacity to reverse abnormalities that have been associated with ASD, including oxidative stress and lower antioxidant capacity, depressed glutathione synthesis, reduced mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation, increased lipid peroxidation, and neuroinflammmation.

Effect of Sulforaphane in Men with Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy

“…Glucosinolates and isothiocyanates could be interesting candidates for such strategies. They have been investigated in clinical trials with no significant reported toxicity (31)(32)(33). However, only sulforaphane precursors such as purified glucosinolates or broccoli sprouts and not sulforaphane are currently in intervention trials because sulforaphane is highly unstable in its free form (34).…”

Therapeutic Potential of Everolimus on Core Autism Symptoms and Increasing Serum Ceruloplasmin and Transferrin Levels in a Pubescent Boy with Tuberous Sclerosis

“…These SRS and ABC scores were greater than the scores of ASD individuals with an age range of 13-27 years (SRS, 120.12; ABC, 60.14) [22]. Other evaluations, including an ophthalmologic examination and dental …”

Reversing autism: Longitudinal data from an ongoing autism intervention study

“…It is a follow-up to a prior report [1] which described the beginning of this Study using a combination strategy which we will shortly but briefly review below. That Study by Evans and Fuller in turn was initiated and prompted by yet a prior clinical trial [2] providing a simple, safe, over-the-counter food supplement, which yielded significant positive outcomes after a 18-week period.…”