Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders. This disorder is characterized by social impairments, trouble with communication, and restricted, repetitive stereotyped patterns of behavior. According to the National Institutes of Health, experts estimate that 1 out of 88 children will have autism spectrum disorder.
Currently, autism is considered a condition with no treatment. According to the CDC: “There are no medications that can cure ASD or treat the core symptoms.”
However, there are clinical studies emerging showing potential natural treatments. Of all the natural substances we have reviewed with potential value in the treatment of ASD, sulforaphane, a molecule found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, is perhaps the most promising candidate, says Sayer Ji, health expert and founder of GreenMedInfo.
A 2014 study entitled “Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” shows that a broccoli sprout extract may treat autism better than drugs.
The researchers wrote:
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#228B22″ class=”” size=””]“Dietary sulforaphane, of recognized low toxicity, was selected for its capacity to reverse abnormalities that have been associated with ASD, including oxidative stress and lower antioxidant capacity, depressed glutathione synthesis, reduced mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation, increased lipid peroxidation, and neuroinflammmation.” [/pullquote]
The study of 44 males, between ages 13-27, showed at after 18 weeks of sulforaphane treatment, 46 percent had improvements in social interactions and 42 percent had improvements in verbal communication.
“Given its favorable safety profile, future studies should address sulforaphane’s potential benefits for the prenatal prevention of ASD as well as for the early treatment of young children with this disorder,” the researchers concluded.
The study showing that a broccoli sprout extract may treat autism better than drugs was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America.
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REFERENCES:
1. “Sulforaphane Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. National Academy of Sciences, 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 Aug. 2015.
2. “Vegetable Extract Treats Autism Better Than Drugs.” GreenMedInfo.com. GreenMedInfo.com, 2 Aug. 2015. Web. 05 Aug. 2015.
3. “Autism Fact Sheet.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). National Institutes of Health, n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2015.
4. “Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Treatment.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Feb. 2015. Web. 05 Aug. 2015.
