Mustard for Sulforaphane Bioavailability

Overseen By Andrew Simonson, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Appalachian State University

Must not be taking: Antibiotics, PPIs, Antacids, Laxatives

Disqualifiers: Diarrhea, GI disorders, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 2 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how well the body absorbs glucoraphanin (GR), a nutrient in broccoli, when paired with mustard seed powder. GR converts into its active form, sulforaphane (SF), which may improve antioxidant protection. The study aims to determine if combining broccoli seed extract with mustard seed powder enhances this conversion and absorption. It seeks healthy, non-smoking volunteers willing to avoid certain foods like mustard and broccoli for a short period. Those who meet these criteria and are interested in the potential benefits of broccoli nutrients may find this trial suitable. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the scientific understanding of broccoli nutrients and their health benefits.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires you to stop using certain medications like proton pump inhibitors, antacids, and laxatives, as well as supplements like broccoli extracts and multivitamins, for a specific period before and during the study. However, it does not specify about other medications, so it's best to discuss your current medications with the study team.

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

Research shows that broccoli sulforaphane is generally safe for people. Clinical trials have found it well-tolerated, with no major or consistent side effects reported. Studies also suggest that consuming broccoli and its extracts, such as sulforaphane, benefits health. Sulforaphane, an active compound, derives from glucoraphanin (GR) in broccoli. Mixing broccoli seed extract with mustard seed powder enhances the conversion of GR into sulforaphane. Overall, current research indicates this treatment appears safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the potential of broccoli sulforaphane with mustard seed powder because it offers a unique way to boost the bioavailability of sulforaphane, a compound known for its health benefits. Unlike standard treatments that may focus on direct nutrient delivery, this approach uses mustard seed powder's natural enzyme, myrosinase, to enhance the body's ability to convert glucoraphanin (GR) from broccoli into sulforaphane. This could lead to more efficient absorption and greater health impacts. Plus, the addition of vitamin C further supports the body's processing of these nutrients, making this treatment a promising alternative to current options.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving antioxidant protection?

Research has shown that adding mustard seed powder to broccoli can significantly increase the amount of sulforaphane absorbed by the body. Mustard contains an enzyme called myrosinase, which converts glucoraphanin in broccoli into sulforaphane, its active form. In this trial, one treatment arm combines broccoli seed extract with mustard seed powder to potentially enhance sulforaphane absorption. Studies have found that adding mustard to broccoli can lead to over four times more sulforaphane absorption. This suggests that using both broccoli seed extract and mustard seed powder together might be more effective in delivering sulforaphane's health benefits than using broccoli seed extract alone, which is being tested in another arm of this trial. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Both male and female subjects will be included

Age between 25-65 years inclusive

Non-smoker

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive broccoli seed extract supplements with or without mustard seed powder in a randomized crossover design

2 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Washout

A 7-day washout period between trials to ensure no carryover effects

1 week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Broccoli Sulforaphane

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Broccoli seed extract with mustard seed powder Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A single dose dietary supplement made up of a mixture of 385 mg broccoli seed extract delivering 50 mg GR (115 umol GR), 145 mg mustard seed powder containing enough active myrosinase (enzyme) to fully hydrolyze the GR in the capsule to SF post-ingestion (\~30 units myrosinase activity) and 100 mg vitamin C (as ascorbic acid).

Group II: Broccoli seed extract Active Control 1 Intervention

A single dose dietary supplement made up of 385 mg broccoli seed extract delivering 50 mg GR (115 umol GR) and 100 mg vitamin C (as ascorbic acid).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Appalachian State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

46

Recruited

2,600+

Brassica Foundation for Chemoprotection Research

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

20+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Sulforaphane, derived from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, shows promising anticancer properties by targeting tumor cells with stem cell-like characteristics, which may help prevent cancer relapse and resistance.

It works through multiple mechanisms, including inhibiting harmful enzymes that activate carcinogens and promoting processes like apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, making it a potential candidate for cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Sulforaphane in Cancer Chemoprevention: The Role of Epigenetic Regulation and HDAC Inhibition. Tortorella, SM., Royce, SG., Licciardi, PV., et al.[2021]

Sulforaphane (SUL), derived from broccoli, effectively inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and increasing cyclin B1 protein levels, demonstrating its potential as a cancer treatment.

The mechanism of action for SUL includes disrupting normal tubulin polymerization, which is crucial for cell division, thereby suggesting that it can suppress mammary cancer growth through effects on microtubule dynamics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sulforaphane inhibits human MCF-7 mammary cancer cell mitotic progression and tubulin polymerization. Jackson, SJ., Singletary, KW.[2023]

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 phase I clinical study involving healthy volunteers showed that broccoli sprout extracts containing glucoraphanin and sulforaphane were safe and well-tolerated, with no significant adverse effects reported during the treatment period.

The study demonstrated that the isothiocyanate sulforaphane was excreted at a much higher rate (70.6% of the dose) compared to glucosinolates, indicating effective absorption and potential for protective health benefits against diseases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety, tolerance, and metabolism of broccoli sprout glucosinolates and isothiocyanates: a clinical phase I study. Shapiro, TA., Fahey, JW., Dinkova-Kostova, AT., et al.[2022]

Sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli, effectively induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cells, demonstrating its potential as an anti-cancer agent.

In a mouse model, intraperitoneal injection of sulforaphane significantly reduced tumor growth by over 70% compared to control, indicating its efficacy in inhibiting cancer progression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sulforaphane induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cultured human lung adenocarcinoma LTEP-A2 cells and retards growth of LTEP-A2 xenografts in vivo. Liang, H., Lai, B., Yuan, Q.[2021]

Citations

1.

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 ...

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04946526

Broccoli Sulforaphane Bioavailability With Mustard

The aim of the present study is to determine in healthy human volunteers the oral bioavailability of sulforaphane (SF) derived from broccoli seed extract (BSE) ...

3.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814612016937

The potential to intensify sulforaphane formation in cooked ...

However, addition of powdered mustard seeds to the heat processed broccoli significantly increased the formation of sulforaphane. Highlights. ▻ ...

4.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-7-2021-b5191

Broccoli Sulforaphane Bioavailability With Mustard

This trial tests how well healthy adults absorb nutrients from broccoli seed supplements, with or without added mustard seed powder.

5.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29806738/

Supplementation of the Diet by Exogenous Myrosinase via ...

These results conclude that when powdered brown mustard is added to cooked broccoli, the bioavailability of sulforaphane is over four times greater than that ...

6.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05745636

NCT05745636 | Broccoli Seed Extract and Skin Health

This study will use supplements containing 770 mg Broccoli Seed Extract (BSE) with 290 mg mustard seed powder (MSP) and 200 mg vitamin C. Limited data indicate ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7987625/

Sulforaphane-enriched extracts from glucoraphanin-rich ...

The raw broccoli extracts showed no antimicrobial activity (Table 1), except against B. cereus. In contrast, the extracts from cooked broccoli (with and without ...