Broccoli sprout extract (BSE) might help control blood sugar, according to a new study. While not all patients responded equally, some could see significant improvements in their prediabetes diagnosis.
A Placebo-Controlled Trial
Prediabetes is a condition characterized by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that do not yet meet the threshold for diabetes. The condition affects millions worldwide and is a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.The study, published on Feb. 10 in Nature Microbiology, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 74 prediabetic participants who were not receiving diabetes medications. After three months, participants taking the BSE had an average drop in fasting blood sugar levels of 0.2 mmol/L compared with those who took the placebo. Each BSE dose contained 26.6 mg of sulforaphane, close to a typical serving of broccoli sprouts (about 1 cup) containing approximately 227.5 mg of the compound.
