Broccoli is a rich source of glucosinolates such as glucoraphanin which can be hydrolysed to sulforaphane that has shown a wide range of anti-cancer activities especially in vitro and in vivo animal studies (1). Glucoraphanin hydrolysis to sulforaphane is dependent on the plant enzyme myrosinase which is released during the breakdown or processing of broccoli(1). Nevertheless, myrosinase can denature during post-harvest and food processing of broccoli (2). Certain probiotics, such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, have shown in vitro myrosinase-like activity converting glucoraphanin to sulforaphane(3). Based on this, the present double-blind, randomised, controlled crossover clinical trial aimed to investigate whetherL. plantarum supplementation could enhance the bioavailability of broccoli-derived sulforaphane in healthy adults.
Participants (n = 5; age = 28.6 ± 8.1 years, weight = 75.94 ± 14.16 kg, and body mass index = 23.9 ± 3.1 kg/m2) received L. plantarum supplementation (2 × 1010 CFU/day) or a placebo (800 mg/day dextrose) for two weeks in a double-blind, randomised, controlled crossover design. Before and after each phase of supplementation, participants consumed broccoli sprout extract tablets (a dose of 136.6 umol of glucoraphanin), followed by the collection of blood (0-8 h) samples. The concentration of sulforaphane and its metabolites was be measured in plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The pharmacokinetics parameters Cmax (maximum concentration) and Tmax (time to reach maximum concentration) were also determined.
A paired t-test was performed to compare the differences in AUC, Cmax, and Tmax between the supplement and placebo conditions. The mean difference of AUC (ΔAUCsupplemet = 0.33 ± 0.72, ΔAUCplacebo = 0.05 ± 0.81, p = 0.614), Cmax(ΔCmax supplement = 0.19 ± 0.32 µM, ΔCmax placebo = 0.02 ± 0.21 µM, p = 0.456), and Tmax(ΔTmax supplement = 0.0 ± 1.4 h, ΔTmax placebo = 0.4 ± 0.9 h, p = 0.704) were not significant as p > 0.05.
Probiotic supplementation did not significantly affect the bioavailablity of broccoli sulforaphane (in terms of AUC) as well as reaching the highest concentration in blood plasma or changing the time to reach the highest concentration. Although the in vitro evidence was not replicated in our clinical study, one potential reason for this discrepancy could be the interindividual variability due to differences in gut microbiota composition at baseline. To better assess this effect, a larger sample size is needed, and the data from this study could help power future research. Additionally, analyzing the levels of Lactobacillus plantarum in each individual at various stages of the study would provide valuable insights into its presence and concentration within the microbiome.