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# Broccoli compound helps type 2 diabetes mellitus
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/broccoli_compound_helps_type_2_diabetes_mellitus_0828130715/
- Published: 2013-08-28T08:14:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:47:00.000Z
- Description: Z. Bahadoran's report describes type 2 diabetics eating high-sulforaphane broccoli sprouts who gained antioxidant capacity and lost oxidative stress, triglycerides, insulin resistance and C-reactive protein, and argues sulforaphane could serve as a supplement.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Wed Aug 28, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A report by Z. Bahadoran of Obesity Research Centers, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences and colleagues suggests that eating young broccoli sprouts or taking a nutritional supplement with a broccoli compound called sulforaphane may help treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Some functional foods and nutraceuticals are now used as nutritional supplements to treat or prevent type 2 diabetes or its long-term complications. Young broccoli sprouts contain many bioactive compounds such as sulforaphane which prior research has suggested may help type 2 diabetes mellitus. 

The broccoli compound sulforaphane in hyperglycemic and oxidative conditions can "activate the NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)-dependent antioxidant response-signaling pathway, induces phase 2 enzymes, attenuates oxidative stress, and inactivates nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), a key modulator of inflammatory pathways," the authors state in their report published in Journal of medicinal Food.

Importantly as the authors state, "sulforaphane induces some peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, which contribute to lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis."

It has been observed that type 2 diabetics eating broccoli sprouts with high sulforaphane had increased total antioxidant capacity in the blood and decreased oxidative stress, "lipid peroxidation, serum triglycerides, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/LDL-cholesterol ratio, serum insulin, insulin resistance, and serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein." 

Also evidence suggests sulforaphane may prevent nephropathy, fibrosis, and vascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 

The authors concluded that sulforaphane and potentially other biotacive compounds found in young broccoli sprouts can be used as a dietary supplementary to treat type 2 diabetes.

In addition to the protective effect against type 2 diabetes mellitus, animal and in vitro studies show sulforaphane also has an antihypertensive, anticancer, antibacterial. cardioprotective, and hypocholesterolemic properties. (jimmy downs)