Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication impairment, delayed development, social function deficit, and repetitive behaviors. The Center for Disease Control reports an increase in ASD diagnosis rates every year. This systematic review evaluated the use of sulforaphane (SFN) therapy as a potential treatment option for individuals with ASD. PubMed.gov, PubMed Central, Natural Medicines, BoardVitals, Google Scholar and Medline were searched for studies measuring the effects of SFN on behavior and cognitive function. All five clinical trials included in this systematic review showed a significant positive correlation between SFN use and ASD behavior and cognitive function. The current evidence shows with minimal side effects observed, SFN appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for treating ASD.
Zhang X, He Q, Zhu YY, Lorimer GH, Bayram H, Ghiladi RA, Wang J. Emerging Promise of Sulforaphane in Autism: A Comprehensive Review of Its Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2026 Aug 5;17(15):2880-2892. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6c00282. PMID: 42473985.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that emerges in early childhood and significantly impacts the quality of life for individuals and families. Currently, there are no specific medications available for ASD. Increasing attention is now focused on bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Sulforaphane (SFN), a key member of the isothiocyanate family, is abundant in cruciferous vegetables. It exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects with minimal side effects, while oxidative stress and inflammation are recognized triggers in ASD pathogenesis. As research deepens, SFN's physiological activities─including antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties are gaining heightened attention. Building on prior studies, this review comprehensively summarizes seven potential pathways through which SFN protects neurodevelopment or reverses ASD-related neural damage, including Keap1/Nrf2/ARE; MAPKs; NF-κB; HSR; AhR/CYP1; Sirtuin-FOXO; and mTOR/autophagy signaling pathways, elucidating the potential mechanisms underlying its multifaceted actions. This review offers new insights for the comprehensive utilization of sulforaphane and the treatment of ASD.
Long J, Liao X, Tang Z, Han K, Chen J, Wang X, Liu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H. Investigating the clinical efficacy, safety and molecular mechanism of sulforaphane in autism spectrum disorder: an integrated study combining meta-analysis, network pharmacology, and computational biology. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2025 Nov 22;26(1):217. doi: 10.1186/s40360-025-01052-5. PMID: 41275316; PMCID: PMC12751817.
Abstract
Background: Sulforaphane, a natural antioxidant rich in cruciferous vegetables, has emerged as a promising dietary supplement for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, its therapeutic efficacy remains controversial, and the pharmacological mechanisms are not fully elucidated.
Methods: Eligible randomized controlled trials were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Review Manager 5.4 was used for meta-analysis and bias risk assessment. Network pharmacology, Mendelian randomization, GEO data analyses, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation were employed to explore the mechanisms of sulforaphane in ASD.
Results: Six trials involving 333 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled results demonstrated that both 4-5 weeks and 8-10 weeks of sulforaphane supplementation significantly decreased the scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale compared to placebo controls. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events. Network pharmacology identified 10 core targets of sulforaphane in ASD, including AKT1, EGFR, HSP90AA1, SRC, CASP3, STAT1, MAPK1, MMP9, MAPK8, and JAK2. These targets were implicated in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Chemokine signaling pathway, Chemical carcinogenesis - reactive oxygen species, TNF signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, mTOR signaling pathway, and IL-17 signaling pathway. Mendelian randomization further revealed an inverse association between STAT1 levels and ASD risk. GEO transcriptomic data provided independent validation for the network pharmacology predictions. The binding energies between sulforaphane and the top 10 core targets are all ≤ -4.0 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics simulations further validated the stable interaction between MMP-9 and sulforaphane.
Conclusion: Sulforaphane may serve as an efficacious and safe adjunctive therapy for ASD, mediated by its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects along with the modulation of autophagy.
Guo J, Wang Y, He W, Lou M, Peng Y, Shi H, Lian A. Effects of sulforaphane on ABC and SRS scales in patients with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis. Brain Dev. 2025 Apr;47(2):104321. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2025.104321. Epub 2025 Feb 14. PMID: 39951914.
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become an increasingly prominent global health issue. Sulforaphane is a phytochemical with multiple functions that target many of the same biochemical and molecular pathways (biomarkers) associated with ASD. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis based on sulforaphane's effect on Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) in patients with ASD. We conducted comprehensive searches in the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from their inception. The modified Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to check the risk of bias of the included studies. Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct this meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis showed that sulforaphane significantly improved irritability and hyperactivity symptoms, suggesting that sulforaphane has the potential for the combined treatment of autism. Additional studies are needed to confirm and explore the effect of sulforaphane.
Ou J, Smith RC, Tobe RH, Lin J, Arriaza J, Fahey JW, Liu R, Zeng Y, Liu Y, Huang L, Shen Y, Li Y, Cheng D, Cornblatt B, Davis JM, Zhao J, Wu R, Jin H. Efficacy of Sulforaphane in Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Multi-center Trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Feb;54(2):628-641. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05784-9. Epub 2022 Nov 24. PMID: 36427174.
Abstract
Sulforaphane has been reported to possibly improve core symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders from mostly small size studies. Here we present results of a larger randomized clinical trial (N = 108) in China. There were no significant changes in caregiver rated scales between sulforaphane and placebo groups. However, clinician rated scales showed a significant improvement in the sulforaphane group, and one third of participants showed at least a 30% decrease in score by 12 weeks treatment. The effects of sulforaphane were seen across the full range of intelligence and greater in participants over 10 years. Sulforaphane was safe and well-tolerated even for young children. The inconsistent results between caregiver and clinician rated scales suggest more clinical trials are needed to confirm our findings.
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