Broccoli could 'hold the key' for treating autism

Conclusion This randomised controlled study has found sulforaphane – a chemical found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower – may have beneficial effects for some people with ASD. The study did not test the effect of eating these vegetables themselves – instead, it tested an extract made from broccoli sprouts. It was unclear exactly how many vegetables you would have to eat to achieve the same dose of sulforaphane used in this study. The main limitation of the study was the small number of selected participants. All participants were male, aged between 13 and 27, predominantly white and had moderate to severe ASD. Therefore, it is unclear whether a similar effect would be seen in people with higher-functioning autistic symptoms, such as Asperger's syndrome. In addition, 80% of them were reported to have symptom improvement when they had a fever; this is usually seen in 35% of people with ASD. This means the results may not be generalisable to all people with ASD. Larger studies on more diverse groups of people will be required to further evaluate the positive effects and potential side effects of sulforaphane before it could be recommended for more widespread use in people with ASD. Broccoli is a healthy food option as it contains a wide range of vitamins and nutrients (though claims it is a superfood are arguably overhyped), so encouraging your child to eat it certainly won't do any harm. However, as autism expert Dr Rosa Hoekstra says in the ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Mental health Neurology Pregnancy/child Source Type: news