An Open Study of Sulforaphane-rich Broccoli Sprout Extract in Patients with Schizophrenia

Overview

Journal Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2015 Apr 28

PMID 25912539

Citations 54

Authors

Akihiro Shiina

Nobuhisa Kanahara

Tsuyoshi Sasaki

Yasunori Oda

Tasuku Hashimoto

Tadashi Hasegawa

Taisuke Yoshida

Masaomi Iyo

Kenji Hashimoto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by severe cognitive impairment. Accumulating evidence suggests a role for oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Sulforaphane (SFN) extracted from broccoli sprout is an agent with potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of SFN on cognitive impairment in medicated patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: We recruited a total of 10 outpatients with schizophrenia, all of whom gave informed consent. Participants took 3 tablets of SFN, consisting of 30 mg of SFN-glucosinolate per day, for 8 weeks. Clinical symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and cognitive function using the Japanese version of CogState battery were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at week 8.

Results: A total of 7 patients completed the trial. The mean score in the Accuracy component of the One Card Learning Task increased significantly after the trial. However, we detected no other significant changes in participants.

Conclusions: This result suggests that SFN has the potential to improve cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.

Citing Articles

The Anti-AGEing and RAGEing Potential of Isothiocyanates.

Krisanits B, Kaur B, Fahey J, Turner D Molecules. 2025; 29(24.

PMID: 39770075 PMC: 11677037. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29245986.

Glial cell deficits are a key feature of schizophrenia: implications for neuronal circuit maintenance and histological differentiation from classical neurodegeneration.

Bernstein H, Nussbaumer M, Vasilevska V, Dobrowolny H, Nickl-Jockschat T, Guest P Mol Psychiatry. 2024; 30(3):1102-1116.

PMID: 39639174 PMC: 11835740. DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02861-6.

The role of isothiocyanate-rich plants and supplements in neuropsychiatric disorders: a review and update.

Ramakrishnan M, Fahey J, Zimmerman A, Zhou X, Panjwani A Front Nutr. 2024; 11:1448130.

PMID: 39421616 PMC: 11484503. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1448130.

Sulforaphane Effects on Cognition and Symptoms in First and Early Episode Schizophrenia: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial.

Hei G, Smith R, Li R, Ou J, Song X, Zheng Y Schizophr Bull Open. 2024; 3(1):sgac024.

PMID: 39144775 PMC: 11205988. DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgac024.

Development and Evaluation of a Cognitive Battery for People With Schizophrenia in Ethiopia.

Gebreegziabhere Y, Habatmu K, Cella M, Alem A Schizophr Bull. 2023; 50(4):931-943.

PMID: 38159078 PMC: 11283194. DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad178.

References

Zhang X, Chen D, Xiu M, Tan Y, Yang F, Zhang L . Clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment associated with male schizophrenia relate to plasma manganese superoxide dismutase activity: a case-control study. J Psychiatr Res. 2013; 47(8):1049-53. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.03.014. View

Lieberman J, Dunbar G, Segreti A, Girgis R, Seoane F, Beaver J . A randomized exploratory trial of an α-7 nicotinic receptor agonist (TC-5619) for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013; 38(6):968-75. PMC: 3629385. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2012.259. View

Busner J, Targum S . The clinical global impressions scale: applying a research tool in clinical practice. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010; 4(7):28-37. PMC: 2880930. View

Kern R, Nuechterlein K, Green M, Baade L, Fenton W, Gold J . The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, part 2: co-norming and standardization. Am J Psychiatry. 2008; 165(2):214-20. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07010043. View

Ibrahim H, Tamminga C . Treating impaired cognition in schizophrenia. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2012; 13(8):1587-94. DOI: 10.2174/138920112800784772. View

Huerta-Ramos E, Iniesta R, Ochoa S, Cobo J, Miquel E, Roca M . Effects of raloxifene on cognition in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013; 24(2):223-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.11.012. View

Niitsu T, Fujisaki M, Shiina A, Yoshida T, Hasegawa T, Kanahara N . A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fluvoxamine in patients with schizophrenia: a preliminary study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2012; 32(5):593-601. DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e3182664cfc. View

Darby D, Pietrzak R, Fredrickson J, Woodward M, Moore L, Fredrickson A . Intraindividual cognitive decline using a brief computerized cognitive screening test. Alzheimers Dement. 2012; 8(2):95-104. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.12.009. View

Green M . Cognitive impairment and functional outcome in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006; 67 Suppl 9:3-8. View

10.

Lim Y, Jaeger J, Harrington K, Ashwood T, Ellis K, Stoffler A . Three-month stability of the CogState brief battery in healthy older adults, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease: results from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle-rate of change substudy (AIBL-ROCS). Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2013; 28(4):320-30. DOI: 10.1093/arclin/act021. View

11.

Reddy R, Reddy R . Antioxidant therapeutics for schizophrenia. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2010; 15(7):2047-55. DOI: 10.1089/ars.2010.3571. View

12.

Carlino D, De Vanna M, Tongiorgi E . Is altered BDNF biosynthesis a general feature in patients with cognitive dysfunctions?. Neuroscientist. 2012; 19(4):345-53. DOI: 10.1177/1073858412469444. View

13.

Yao J, Keshavan M . Antioxidants, redox signaling, and pathophysiology in schizophrenia: an integrative view. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2010; 15(7):2011-35. PMC: 3159108. DOI: 10.1089/ars.2010.3603. View

14.

Zhang X, Chen D, Xiu M, Tang W, Zhang F, Liu L . Plasma total antioxidant status and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2012; 139(1-3):66-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.04.009. View

15.

Juge N, Mithen R, Traka M . Molecular basis for chemoprevention by sulforaphane: a comprehensive review. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2007; 64(9):1105-27. PMC: 11136334. DOI: 10.1007/s00018-007-6484-5. View

16.

Mahadik S, Evans D, Lal H . Oxidative stress and role of antioxidant and omega-3 essential fatty acid supplementation in schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2001; 25(3):463-93. DOI: 10.1016/s0278-5846(00)00181-0. View

17.

Pietrzak R, Snyder P, Jackson C, Olver J, Norman T, Piskulic D . Stability of cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia over brief and intermediate re-test intervals. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2008; 24(2):113-21. DOI: 10.1002/hup.998. View

18.

Peet M, Brind J, Ramchand C, Shah S, Vankar G . Two double-blind placebo-controlled pilot studies of eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2001; 49(3):243-51. DOI: 10.1016/s0920-9964(00)00083-9. View

19.

Hashimoto K . Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a biomarker for mood disorders: an historical overview and future directions. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010; 64(4):341-57. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02113.x. View

20.

Shirai Y, Fujita Y, Hashimoto K . Effects of the antioxidant sulforaphane on hyperlocomotion and prepulse inhibition deficits in mice after phencyclidine administration. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2013; 10(2):94-8. PMC: 3569145. DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2012.10.2.94. View