Sulforaphane for Age-Related Issues

Overseen By Tinna Traustadóttir, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northern Arizona University

Must not be taking: Statins, Blood pressure, Antidepressives, others

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Liver disease, Renal disease, others

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 week per trial arm

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether sulforaphane, a supplement found in broccoli and other vegetables, can enhance exercise benefits for older adults. The researchers aim to determine if these nutrients can make exercise more effective for individuals whose fitness levels typically decline with age. Participants will take either the sulforaphane supplement or a placebo before exercising. This trial may suit those aged 60 and older who notice a decline in their fitness levels. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that may improve exercise benefits for older adults.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

Yes, you will need to stop taking certain medications, such as statins, blood pressure medications, and anti-depressives, as they could affect the study's outcome measures.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that sulforaphane is generally safe for people. Studies using broccoli sprout extracts, which are high in sulforaphane, have found that people tolerate these well. For example, a study with individuals who have type 2 diabetes found that sulforaphane supplements were safe. Another study determined a safe dose for those with chronic kidney disease.

These findings suggest that sulforaphane, like the one used in this trial, is safe to take. It comes from cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, which are commonly eaten and known for their health benefits. While some individuals might experience minor digestive issues, these are uncommon. Overall, the evidence supports the safety of sulforaphane in the amounts typically studied. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike traditional treatments for age-related issues that often involve pharmaceuticals, sulforaphane is derived from broccoli sprouts. This makes it unique due to its natural origin and the use of a bioactive compound known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers are excited about sulforaphane because it targets oxidative stress and inflammation, which are key contributors to age-related problems, in a potentially safer and more holistic way than conventional drugs. Additionally, this treatment is easy to administer through oral capsules, making it accessible and convenient.

What evidence suggests that sulforaphane could improve exercise response in older individuals?

Research has shown that sulforaphane, a natural compound in broccoli sprouts, may improve health. Studies have found it beneficial for conditions with limited treatment options. Sulforaphane reduces inflammation, which can alleviate various age-related issues. It also influences gut bacteria, producing substances that combat inflammation. This trial will test an oral sulforaphane supplement to determine if it enhances the body's response to exercise, particularly in older adults, by boosting anti-inflammatory effects. Participants will receive either the sulforaphane supplement or a placebo. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men and women aged 60 or older who can consent to participate, have passed a screening, and have lower than average maximal oxygen consumption. People with recent heart attacks, severe heart conditions, current smokers, those on certain medications like statins or blood pressure drugs, and individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 60 years old or older.

My oxygen consumption is below the recommended level for my gender.

Successful completion of screening

Exclusion Criteria

You have severe obesity with a BMI greater than 33 kg/m2.

I have not taken estrogen in any form in the last 6 months.

I have had a heart attack in the last 6 months, have severe heart valve narrowing, use a heart shock device, or have uncontrolled chest pain.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either sulforaphane supplement or placebo prior to acute exercise to test Nrf2 activation

1 week per trial arm

2 visits (in-person) for each arm

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Sulforaphane

Trial Overview The study is testing if sulforaphane—a compound in cruciferous vegetables—can boost the benefits of exercise in older adults. Participants will either receive sulforaphane capsules or placebo capsules without knowing which one they are taking.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SFN supplement Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

The oral sulforaphane supplement is a myrosinase-active whole broccoli sprout material (EnduraCell Bioactive, Cell-Logic, Queensland, AU) containing 14 mg SFN per capsule. Three capsules will be consumed 90 min prior to the start of the acute exercise trial. The dose of 3 capsules is equivalent to approximately 220 µmol of SFN, which is comparable to that of other studies using broccoli sprout extracts and the recommended single dose.

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 2 Interventions

Placebo capsules provided by Cell-Logic.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northern Arizona University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

36

Recruited

6,300+

Villanova University

Collaborator

Trials

8

Recruited

3,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a clinical trial with 50 healthy participants, sulforaphane was found to be significantly more bioavailable from a sulforaphane-rich beverage (SFR) compared to a glucoraphanin-rich beverage (GRR), with urinary excretion rates of 70% for SFR versus only 5% for GRR.

The study suggests that combining both SFR and GRR in future formulations could optimize dosing, allowing for both immediate and prolonged effects of sulforaphane, which may enhance its protective actions against cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bioavailability of Sulforaphane from two broccoli sprout beverages: results of a short-term, cross-over clinical trial in Qidong, China. Egner, PA., Chen, JG., Wang, JB., et al.[2022]

In a study with male F344 rats, glucoraphanin from broccoli was found to be absorbed intact into the bloodstream, with 5% of the administered dose appearing in urine, indicating its bioavailability.

The study also revealed that glucoraphanin undergoes enterohepatic circulation and is hydrolyzed in the gut, leading to the production of various metabolites, including the beneficial compound sulforaphane.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The metabolic fate of purified glucoraphanin in F344 rats. Bheemreddy, RM., Jeffery, EH.[2022]

In a study using C. elegans, sulforaphane from broccoli was found to significantly prolong lifespan and improve mobility and food intake by activating the TRA-1 transcription factor, which is linked to healthy aging.

The beneficial effects of sulforaphane were dependent on the presence of the TRA-1 and DAF-16 genes, indicating that these pathways are crucial for its mechanism of action in promoting longevity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sulforaphane Targets TRA-1/GLI Upstream of DAF-16/FOXO to Promote C. elegans Longevity and Healthspan. Ji, H., Qi, Z., Schrapel, D., et al.[2021]

Aqueous extract from glucoraphanin-rich broccoli sprouts significantly inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and reduces inflammatory markers in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), suggesting a protective effect against vascular injury.

The extract also prevents oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HUVECs exposed to AGEs, highlighting its potential as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aqueous Extract of Glucoraphanin-Rich Broccoli Sprouts Inhibits Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products and Attenuates Inflammatory Reactions in Endothelial Cells. Sotokawauchi, A., Ishibashi, Y., Matsui, T., et al.[2020]

Sulforaphane (SF), a beneficial compound from broccoli, is absorbed more effectively from myrosinase-rich broccoli sprouts compared to glucoraphanin-rich broccoli powder, with a 74% recovery in urine from sprouts versus only 19% from the powder.

Combining broccoli sprouts with the powder improved SF absorption, suggesting that this combination could enhance the health benefits of broccoli products without causing any toxicity, as indicated by liver function tests.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sulforaphane absorption and excretion following ingestion of a semi-purified broccoli powder rich in glucoraphanin and broccoli sprouts in healthy men. Cramer, JM., Jeffery, EH.[2021]

Sulphoraphane, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, shows protective effects against vascular damage in diabetes by acting as an antioxidant and inhibiting the formation of harmful advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Research indicates that sulphoraphane may reduce inflammation related to AGEs and lower serum levels of AGEs in humans, suggesting it could be a promising new treatment strategy for preventing vascular complications in diabetic patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protective role of sulphoraphane against vascular complications in diabetes. Yamagishi, S., Matsui, T.[2022]

Broccoli consumption, particularly due to the isothiocyanate sulforaphane derived from its precursor glucoraphanin, has been linked to health benefits, including cancer chemoprotection, supported by over 3000 studies and more than 50 clinical trials.

There is a need for improved integration of animal and human studies to better understand the effective doses and mechanisms of action of sulforaphane, as well as to develop reliable biomarkers for its effects in humans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Broccoli or Sulforaphane: Is It the Source or Dose That Matters? Yagishita, Y., Fahey, JW., Dinkova-Kostova, AT., et al.[2021]

A new ultra-fast and accurate method was developed to measure sulforaphane (SFN) and its precursor glucoraphanin (GR) in human urine, demonstrating over 87% recovery and low variability, which is crucial for studying their effects in humans.

After consuming broccoli sprouts, participants showed up to 40% bioavailability of SFN, indicating that dietary intake of broccoli can effectively deliver this beneficial compound to the body.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A new ultra-rapid UHPLC/MS/MS method for assessing glucoraphanin and sulforaphane bioavailability in human urine. Dominguez-Perles, R., Medina, S., Moreno, DÁ., et al.[2021]

Sulforaphane (SFN) and broccoli leaf extract (BLE) significantly reduced lipid accumulation and triglyceride content in fat cells (3T3-L1 adipocytes) and improved metabolic markers in ob/ob mice, indicating their potential as anti-obesity agents.

The treatment with SFN and BLE not only decreased fat storage and improved liver health but also normalized the expression of 32 genes related to lipid metabolism, suggesting a mechanism of action that involves enhancing metabolic pathways in the body.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-obesity effect of sulforaphane in broccoli leaf extract on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and ob/ob mice. Ranaweera, SS., Natraj, P., Rajan, P., et al.[2022]

Citations

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Sulforaphane: Its “Coming of Age” as a Clinically Relevant ... A number of clinical trials have demonstrated its ability to produce favourable outcomes in conditions for which there are few satisfactory pharmaceutical ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6106845/

Aqueous Extract of Glucoraphanin-Rich Broccoli Sprouts ... The present study demonstrates that sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract could inhibit the AGE-RAGE axis and exhibit anti-inflammatory actions in HUVECs.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04946526

Broccoli Sulforaphane Bioavailability With Mustard This study will include 16 male and female adults ages 25 to 65 years, and employ a randomized crossover design, with a 7 day washout period between trials.

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/8/1353

Sulforaphane and Brain Health: From Pathways of Action ... These effects are applicable to individuals of all ages, from the developing brains in periconception and infancy, to cognitively, developmentally, and ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464623002451

The broccoli-derived antioxidant sulforaphane changes ... Sulforaphane can increase growth of specific gastrointestinal microbiota, correlating with increased production of anti-inflammatory metabolites.

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05797506

Safety, Feasibility and Efficacy of Sulforaphane (Avmacol ... The investigators will test the safety and efficacy of Avmacol ES in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. After having established a safe dose of 4 tablets ...

7. alzdiscovery.org alzdiscovery.org/uploads/cognitive_vitality_media/Sulforaphane-Cognitive-Vitality-For-Researchers.pdf

Sulforaphane Aging and related health concerns: Evidence from multiple meta-analyses suggest that eating cruciferous vegetables may prevent cancer, but there is little ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6804255/

Broccoli or Sulforaphane: Is It the Source or Dose That ... There is robust epidemiological evidence for the beneficial effects of broccoli consumption on health, many of them clearly mediated by the isothiocyanate ...

9. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41564-025-01932-w

Effect of broccoli sprout extract and baseline gut microbiota ... Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate that reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis in individuals with type 2 diabetes and is well tolerated when provided as a broccoli ...