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A chemical found in broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables may reduce symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, suggests a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For the study, scientists at the MassGeneral Hospital for Childrens Lurie Center for Autism gave young men with moderate to severe autism, who ranged in age from 13 to 30, a dose of sulforaphane, a phytochemical derived from broccoli. Two-thirds of the participants social behaviors improved by the end of the 22-week study.
Researchers were inspired by research in 2007 that indicated when autistic children have a fever, their social interaction becomes enhanced.
We hypothesized the changes in fever probably are due to changes in cells that are stimulated by whats called the cellular stress response, study author Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a clinical professor of pediatrics and neurology at UMass Memorial Medical Center, told FoxNews.com.
Zimmerman, who was part of the 2007 research, said there were several chemicals that stimulated changes in autistic childrens behavior during fever. One of them was hydroxyurea, a drug thats used for sickle-cell disease. Another was sulforaphane.
Previous studies showed sulforaphane can treat skin blistering and boost the immune system. The chemical has been used in over 20 cancer trials as a treatment for the disease.
Its a remarkable natural substance, Zimmerman said.
In the study, 44 participants were split into three groups. Researchers gave two of those groups a daily dose of sulforaphane ranging from 9 to 27 mg, based on each persons individual weight and the third group a placebo. Caregivers gave participants the supplement or the placebo for the first 18 weeks of the study.
Neither the caregivers nor the participants knew if they were given the supplement or the placebo.
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Molecule found in broccoli linked to improved autism symptoms