Daily consumption of a chemical called sulforaphane that is a common component of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage has been shown to improve both cognitive and social skills in people with autism. The improvement in the symptoms of autism took between four weeks and 18 weeks of treatment.
The 44 study participants were all males that had been diagnosed with moderate to sever autism. The age range of the participants was between 13 years of age and 27 years of age. The participants received a placebo or sulforaphane extracted from broccoli sprouts for 18 weeks.
The participant’s cognitive abilities and social skills were assessed by standardized tests prior to the treatment with sulforaphane. The participant’s caregivers also assessed the level of cognitive ability and social skills in each individual. The same assessment was made at four weeks, 10 weeks, and 18 weeks of treatment with sulforaphane. An additional assessment was made four weeks after the treatment with sulforaphane had been stopped.
Sixty-six percent of the participants in the study demonstrated improvements in their autism symptoms based on paper assessments and their caregiver’s assessment. Aberrant behaviors like irritability, lethargy, repetitive movements, and hyperactivity decreased by 54 percent in the people that took sulforaphane. Social skills improved by 46 percent and spoken communication improved by 42 percent in the people that consumed sulforaphane. The improvements were not noticeable four weeks after the treatment with sulforaphane had stopped.
The researchers note that sulforaphane is not a cure for autism. The compound worked for 66 percent of the patients that were treated with it. The remaining 34 percent did not show any improvement. Just eating the vegetables will not produce the same results.
