Broccoli Sprout Extract May Have Benefits in Nasal Allergies

A natural compound found in broccoli sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables improves the ability of nasal cells to detoxify, or break down, and dispose of hazardous chemicals, which may blunt the effect of nasal allergies.

The compound, called sulforaphane, is known to boost the activity of the liver’s phase 2 enzymes, which help break down and dispose of toxins.

Marc A. Riedl, MD, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his colleagues gave 65 healthy men and women either liquified broccoli sprouts or a placebo consisting of alfalfa sprouts. The dosages ranged from 25 to 200 grams of each type of sprout, roughly equivalent to about 1 to 7 ounces.

Sulforaphane is also found in regular broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. However, broccoli sprouts average 20 to 50 times more sulforaphane than found in broccoli.

Using nasal fluid from the subjects, Riedl and his colleagues measured the activity of several antioxidant enzymes involved in detoxification. The enzymes included glutathione-s-transferase M1, glutathione-s-transferase P1, NADPH quinone oxidoreductive, and hemoxygenase-1.

Levels of the enzymes increased with the amount of broccoli sprouts, peaking at approximately a 20-time increase at the 200-gram dose.

Although Reidl did not test the broccoli sprouts on symptoms of nasal allergies, he did note their potential for reducing allergy-related respiratory inflammation.

Reference: Reidl MA, Saxon A, Diaz-Sanchez D. "Oral sulforaphane increases phase 2 antioxidant enzymes in the human upper airway." Clinical Immunology, 2009;130:244-251.