Key to Treating Schizophrenia May Be Found in Broccoli

Scientists found extracts of Broccoli can tweak chemical imbalances in the brains of people with the condition.

Broccoli. Photo: Hessam Hojati/Unsplash

They used the compound sulforaphane, derived from broccoli sprouts, to restore lower levels of glutamate and glutathione. The chemicals are responsible for sending messages between brain cells that have been linked to schizophrenia.

Experts believe the findings could pave the way for new treatments in the future that don't rely on powerful drugs which come with unwanted side effects. Current medicines often leave patients with involuntary movements, restlessness, stiffness and 'the shakes'.

However, the study did not prove the compound can help combat symptoms - only that it may play a role in restoring the chemical imbalance.

Scientists found schizophrenia sufferers had, on average, four per cent lower levels of glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain. The anterior cingulate cortex plays a role in emotion, impulse control, attention allocation, reward anticipation and decision-making.

Scientists also found those who were mentally ill had, on average, three per cent less glutathione in same region of the brain and eight per cent less in the thalamus. Glutathione is made of three smaller molecules, and one of them is glutamate.

Next, the researchers asked how glutamate could be managed in the brain and whether that management is faulty in people schizophrenia.

Because glutamate is a building block of glutathione, the researchers wondered if the brain may use glutathione as a way to store extra glutamate. If so, the researchers questioned if they could use known drugs to shift this balance to either release glutamate from storage when there isn't enough, or send it into storage if there is too much.

They monitored glutathione levels in the brains of the healthy volunteers before and after taking sulforaphane. The team found that after seven days, there was about a 30 per cent increase in average glutathione levels.

The scientists say further trials are needed to learn whether sulforaphane can safely reduce symptoms of psychosis or hallucinations in people with schizophrenia. They would need to determine an optimal dose and see how long people must take it to observe an effect.

The researchers caution their studies don't justify or demonstrate the value of using commercially available sulforaphane supplements to treat or prevent schizophrenia.

Sulforaphane is found in a variety of cruciferous vegetables, and was first identified as a 'chemoprotective' substance decades ago. (Tasnim News Agency)

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