A recent study by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has found that sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli sprouts, significantly reduces blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. Particularly, it showed enhanced effectiveness in those with mild age-related diabetes and specific gut bacteria. The research, published in Nature Microbiology, involved 89 participants with elevated fasting blood sugar levels, who were randomly assigned either sulforaphane or a placebo over 12 weeks, with 74 completing the study.
The results of the study showed varying degrees of blood sugar reduction, ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 millimoles per liter, depending on the participant’s clinical subgroup and gut bacteria composition. While prediabetes affects approximately 10% of Sweden’s population and currently lacks clear treatment protocols, this discovery suggests potential for precision treatment using sulforaphane as a functional food supplement. Professor Anders Rosengren emphasizes that while these findings are promising, lifestyle factors like exercise, healthy eating, and weight loss remain fundamental to prediabetes treatment.