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Bioavailability and inter-conversion of sulforaphane and erucin in human subjects consuming broccoli sprouts or broccoli supplement in a cross-over study design

John D Clarke, Anna Hsu, Ken Riedl, Deborah Bella, Steven J Schwartz, Jan F Stevens, Emily Ho
Pharmacological Research 2011 64(5):456-463

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 21816223
PubMed Central
PMC3183106
Funding
Supported by NIH grants CA090890 and CA122906, Oregon AES OR00735, and NIEHS P30 ES00210.

Study snapshot

DesignHuman crossover bioavailability study
ModelHealthy adults
Sample16
InterventionTwelve subjects consumed 40 g fresh broccoli sprouts and, after a one-month washout, six broccoli-supplement pills; four additional control subjects received alfalfa sprouts and placebo pills.
DurationTwo 48-hour sampling phases separated by one month
EndpointsPlasma sulforaphane metabolites; Urinary sulforaphane metabolites; Erucin metabolites; Bioavailability; Interconversion of sulforaphane and erucin

What the study showed, in plain terms

Fresh broccoli sprouts generated far more and faster sulforaphane and erucin exposure than the tested broccoli supplement, which lacked active myrosinase. The result demonstrates that a broccoli-derived supplement cannot be judged from ingredient weight alone.

Key findings

Peak plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of sulforaphane and erucin metabolites were substantially higher and earlier after fresh sprouts. The authors concluded that supplements devoid of myrosinase activity did not provide equivalent isothiocyanate exposure to fresh sprouts.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small study, pharmacokinetic rather than clinical endpoints, and the finding applies to the specific myrosinase-inactivated supplement tested rather than all modern sulforaphane supplements.

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