Bioavailability of Sulforaphane Following Ingestion of Glucoraphanin-Rich Broccoli Sprout and Seed Extracts with Active Myrosinase: A Pilot Study of the Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitor Administration

Fahey JW, Wade KL, Stephenson KK, Panjwani AA, Liu H, Cornblatt G, Cornblatt BS, Ownby SL, Fuchs E, Holtzclaw WD, Cheskin LJ · Nutrients

About a third of the glucoraphanin dose came out in urine as sulforaphane metabolites (32.7% overall). Stomach acid cost some of it: uncoated tablets converted 25.7% before omeprazole and 33.6% on it, and enteric coating lifted conversion to 35.5% before omeprazole (p < 0.03) while roughly doubling the abdominal complaints. Heavier participants converted less (38.5% down to 21.1% across 43 to 123 kg); sex, age, BMI and vegetable intake made no difference.

Population

36 adults: 20 healthy volunteers in a pilot phase, then 16 with heartburn or reflux not on acid suppression, each serving as their own control

Intervention

A commercial broccoli seed and sprout extract with active myrosinase, as uncoated and enteric-coated tablets, before and during omeprazole

Comparator

The same person's earlier dose

Limitations

Not randomised: a sequence of single doses with each participant as their own control, in a pilot of 36 with no joint endpoint. The supplement's manufacturer helped fund the study and three of its scientists are authors.