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The effect of sulforaphane on autism spectrum disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis

Rui Wang, Zhenhui Ren, Yamin Li
EXCLI Journal 2025 24:542-557

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 40458076
PubMed Central
PMC12127520
DOI
10.17179/excli2025-8239
Funding
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China (2023JJ30764) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (82371553)
Competing interests
The authors declared no competing interests.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
ModelChildren and adults with autism spectrum disorder across six RCTs
SampleSix randomized controlled trials; pooled sample varied by outcome
InterventionSulforaphane interventions versus placebo/control across included randomized trials.
DurationVariable across included trials; duration examined as a moderator
EndpointsTotal autism symptoms; Aberrant behavior; Hyperactivity; Social interaction; Social communication; Restricted and repetitive behaviors; Adverse events

What the study showed, in plain terms

This 2025 meta-analysis of six randomized trials reported small pooled improvements in several autism symptom domains and no significant increase in common adverse events, while emphasizing that results vary by measurement tool, assessor and treatment duration.

Key findings

Pooled analyses favored sulforaphane for total symptoms, aberrant behavior, hyperactivity, social interaction, social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors. Several other domains were not significantly different, and heterogeneity was substantial for some outcomes.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Only six RCTs were available, formulations and assessment methods varied, some pooled outcomes were heterogeneous, and findings differed by assessor, tool and duration. A separate 2025 meta-analysis reached a more conservative conclusion for pooled ABC total score, so the evidence should be presented as mixed rather than definitive.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology