Broccoli sprouts have often been used by healthy individuals to give a wide range of nutrients to that person’s diet and to provide quick, easy energy. Broccoli sprouts are back in people’s awareness for a different reason and is being studied by one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have recently shown how sulforaphane, a compound found naturally in broccoli sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables, may help those who experience schizophrenia and its symptoms. Schizophrenia affects nearly 21 million people around the world, which makes this recent research potentially very helpful to many. How so?
To begin with their research, the researchers found that those experiencing psychosis had a statistically significant four percent lower amount of glutamate in their anterior cingulate cortex, as compared to healthy individuals.
Glutamate is a brain chemical that sends signals between neurons and heightened activity of glutamate has been shown to be related to depression and schizophrenia.
The researchers also found that there was a significant reduction in glutathione, one of the brain’s best antioxidants. What is interesting is that glutathione is made from three different compounds and one of these compounds is glutamate.
Sulforaphane comes into the picture because it turns on a gene that makes more of the enzyme that sticks glutamate with another molecule to end up making glutathione. Essentially, more sulforaphane results in more glutathione.
When they tested on rats, the researchers supplemented with the sulforaphane-created glutathione and found that the brains had slowed down their nerve cell firing and behaved much less like schizophrenic brain activity.
The researchers believe that schizophrenic brains may carry less glutamate and thus, use it up more quickly. Supplementing sulforaphane on human schizophrenics is the next step to test its effectiveness and would be interesting to see the results of, given that it is very safe for human consumption. How effective could it actually be for human schizophrenics?
One medical doctor and psychiatrist who has extensive and impressive history treating schizophrenics is Dr. Abram Hoffer, who has used large doses of niacin, which is vitamin B3, and vitamin C on his patients. He has conducted several double-blind, placebo controlled human clinical trials, which can be read here.
He is also the doctor who has used niacin and vitamin C to help alcoholics recover from addiction.
In regards to schizophrenia, there are several other nutrients to consider for further potential studies. Combinations that would be worth further scientific study on schizophrenia might include NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), Sulforaphane and niacin, as well as combinations that include alpha lipoic acid and high doses of vitamin C. Looking at nutrients that increase SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the brain would also be worth further study.
Check out our 3 minute video version of this information for a more comprehensive visual and auditory learning experience:
What are your thoughts on this? Have you used broccoli sprouts or sulforaphane supplements to support your brain health? Do you know someone who might find this recent study interesting?
Crystalline Nutrients creates 3 minute or less YouTube videos on the latest nutrition science research. Videos are meant to be short to allow busy health-conscious people and practitioners stay up to date with only a few minutes of their time. Follow Crystalline Nutrients on YouTube and Instagram for three new videos per week.
If you enjoyed this article please SHARE it.
You can follow us on Instagram HERE
And if you haven’t already please help us reach 3 million Facebook fans by following us HERE
You can follow Kash Khan the Creator of EducateInspireChange @ConsciousKash on Instagram
The post New Study Reveals Broccoli Sprouts As Possible Schizophrenia Treatment appeared first on Educate Inspire Change.