Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Researchers gave 44 boys and young men with autism either a sulforaphane supplement or a placebo, an inactive look-alike treatment. Sulforaphane is a chemical found in broccoli sprouts. The trial lasted 18 weeks, and neither the participants nor researchers knew who received which treatment. Those taking sulforaphane had greater improvements on standard questionnaires measuring behavior, social skills, and communication. The benefits mostly faded during the four weeks after treatment stopped, and 34 participants completed the study.

What this means for you: This small study suggests sulforaphane might help some autism-related behaviors, but it is not strong enough to recommend buying supplements. It should not replace established autism support, and larger studies are needed.