Sulforaphane Treatment in Children with Autism: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
PubMed 36771424 · doi:10.3390/nu15030718
What was done
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated sulforaphane (SFN) in children aged 3 to 7 years with autism spectrum disorder. Forty children were randomized and assessed over 36 weeks (at baseline, 18 weeks, and 36 weeks) using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), and Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC).
What was found
Twenty-eight of the 40 randomized children completed the study. Raw scores on the ABC and SRS-2 improved in both the treatment and placebo groups, but between-group differences were not statistically significant at any visit (ABC: 0 weeks p = 0.2742, 18 weeks p = 0.4352, 36 weeks p = 0.576; SRS-2: 0 weeks p = 0.5235, 18 weeks p = 0.9176, 36 weeks p = 0.7435). ADOS-2 subscale scores also showed no significant differences between groups (0 weeks p = 0.8782, 18 weeks p = 0.4788, 36 weeks p = 0.9414).
Why it matters
This trial provides controlled pediatric evidence showing no clear behavioral benefit from sulforaphane, contrasting with some earlier reports of efficacy in autism spectrum disorder.
Limits
The sample size was small (40 randomized, 28 completing), which limits statistical power to detect modest effects. The abstract does not report the sulforaphane dosage, baseline severity ranges, or reasons for participant dropout.
Cited by
- contradicts There are 12 published clinical studies showing that the sulforaphane supplement Avmacol improves symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.