Isothiocyanate and precursor-derived supplement · Fact sheet
Sulforaphane
Also known as SFN
Sulforaphane is formed from broccoli-related precursors and is studied for cellular stress-response signaling. Human results depend on formulation and condition; a COPD trial found no benefit on its primary gene-expression outcomes.
What is Sulforaphane?
Glucoraphanin is a precursor, while myrosinase is an enzyme that helps form sulforaphane. They are not interchangeable amounts.
Broccoli extracts can differ greatly in conversion, stability and delivered exposure.
Benefits & claims
Interest in Sulforaphane spans aging and energy, gut and immune function, specific medical conditions. Study findings apply to the named formulation and population.
What the evidence supports
- Sulforaphane was absorbed in the COPD study without improving the measured primary molecular endpoints.
- Broccoli beverage formulations can produce different bioavailability.
- A mechanistic Nrf2 claim does not establish detoxification, cancer prevention or broad clinical benefit.
Research areas
- Formulation-specific human outcomes
- Mechanistic research
Dosage & frequency
Human study contextThis is an exposure from a named human study, not a generally established treatment or enhancement regimen.
COPD sulforaphane randomized trial
89 patients with COPD who could undergo protocol bronchoscopies
- Amount
- 25 or 150 micromoles sulforaphane in separate groups
- Frequency
- Daily for four weeks
- Route studied or labeled
- Oral
Micromoles of sulforaphane are not milligrams of broccoli extract or glucoraphanin. The trial found no improvement in Nrf2 target expression or the measured lung/inflammatory outcomes.
How to read these amounts
An approved regimen belongs to a specific product, indication, and population. A study regimen describes what researchers tested; it does not establish a prescription or a safe self-use protocol. Products, routes, and formulations are not interchangeable. A prescriber uses the full label and individual clinical circumstances.
Personal accounts may describe amounts, schedules and outcomes beyond clinical research. They do not establish a regimen. Read the reported experiences
Formulations, interactions & practical context
- Identity and pharmacology
- Glucoraphanin is a precursor, while myrosinase is an enzyme that helps form sulforaphane. They are not interchangeable amounts.
Formulation differences
- Broccoli extracts can differ greatly in conversion, stability and delivered exposure.
Interactions & precautions
- The reviewed sources do not establish a comprehensive human interaction profile for this exact substance or combination.
What is still unresolved
- Reproducibility in larger independent trials
- Long-term outcomes and adverse effects
- Equivalence of different preparations and interaction profiles
Side effects & risks
- Short trials reported tolerability but do not define long-term concentrated-supplement safety in every population.
- A precursor label may not reliably describe delivered sulforaphane exposure or interactions.
This is a summary of the cited evidence, not a complete product label. A lack of human safety data does not establish safety.
Clinical research
Early human evidenceA controlled COPD trial tested verified oral exposure but found no Nrf2-target or lung-function advantage. A crossover beverage study documents formulation-related bioavailability differences.
Studies
89-person COPD trial; negative molecular and clinical measures.
Broccoli beverage crossover bioavailability study.
Personal experiences
Reports describe what someone noticed. They cannot establish cause, typical results, or how often a side effect happens. Amounts and schedules describe the individual account, not an effective or safe dose. Product identity and strength may be unverified, and missing details are left explicit.
No attributable personal accounts were found in the sources reviewed.
Approval status
No FDA-approved Sulforaphane drug indication is established for the supplement uses discussed here. Supplement availability is not FDA approval of efficacy or safety.
No FDA-approved product for this entry
Approval covers the labeled product, use and population. A trial phase does not establish success; a stopped program is not ongoing research.
- Lack of Effect of Oral Sulforaphane Administration on Nrf2 Expression in COPD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial.
- Bioavailability of Sulforaphane from two broccoli sprout beverages: results of a short-term, cross-over clinical trial in Qidong, China.
- FDA: what approval means for supplements
Open questions
- Reproducibility in larger independent trials
- Long-term outcomes and adverse effects
- Equivalence of different preparations and interaction profiles
Summary
A mechanistic Nrf2 claim does not establish detoxification, cancer prevention or broad clinical benefit.
Sources
Medical evidence and regulatory sources are listed here. Personal reports are linked separately in the experiences section.
- pubmedLack of Effect of Oral Sulforaphane Administration on Nrf2 Expression in COPD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial.
89-person COPD trial; negative molecular and clinical measures.
- pubmedBioavailability of Sulforaphane from two broccoli sprout beverages: results of a short-term, cross-over clinical trial in Qidong, China.
Broccoli beverage crossover bioavailability study.
- fdaFDA: what approval means for supplements
Dietary supplements are not approved by FDA for safety and effectiveness before marketing.