Month: August 2020

Broccoli sprout synergies

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Cortisol, Dopamine, Epigenetics, Glutamate, Hippocampus, Immune system, Limbic system, Memory, Neurochemicals, Stress , , , ,

I was asked for examples of broccoli sprout synergies with supplements mentioned in Week 19 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts. I take supplements and broccoli sprouts together an hour or two before meals to keep meal contents from lowering sulforaphane bioavailability. Sulforaphane peaks in plasma between 1 and 2 hours after ingestion.

sulforaphane peak plasma

I started splitting broccoli sprout doses after reading the first study of A pair of broccoli sprout studies. The second study was Untargeted metabolomic screen reveals changes in human plasma metabolite profiles following consumption of fresh broccoli sprouts.

Those subjects ate only “a single dose of fresh broccoli sprouts (providing 200 μmol SFN equivalents) at 8 AM on study day 1.” A 200 μmol amount of sulforaphane is a 35 mg weight.

For comparison, my daily consumption is a worst-case 52 mg sulforaphane from microwaving 131 g of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts per Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds. Every day for 22 weeks now. 🙂

The second study’s measurements through 48 hours produced this informative graphic and text:

“Of the features we identified using metabolite databases and classified as endogenous, eleven were significantly altered.

  • Glutathione (GSH) – a major intracellular antioxidant that conjugates with SFN during metabolism – was significantly decreased in plasma at 6, 12 and 24 hours following sprout intake.
  • GSH precursors glutamine (3 and 24 hours) and cysteine (12 and 24 hours) also decreased.
  • We observed significant decreases in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) at 3, 6 and 12 hours.
  • Decreases in fatty acids reported here suggest that even a single dose of broccoli sprouts may alter plasma lipids in healthy adult populations.

While this study focuses largely on potential effects of SFN, broccoli sprouts contain many other bioactive components (e.g., indoles) that could be responsible for our observations as well as additional health benefits.”

Supplements I take twice daily with broccoli sprouts:

  • 1 gram L-glutamine for replenishment and other purposes;
  • 25 mg DHEA to replenish and other effects;
  • 15 mg then 50 mg zinc, which has a role in GSH metabolism;
  • 500 mg glucosamine (anti-inflammatory, crosstalk with Nrf2 signaling pathway);
  • 500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine (induces Nrf2-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis); and
  • 1400 IU then 2000 IU Vitamin D. A major portion of its effects is Nrf2 activation, like sulforaphane. A virtuous circle develops when taken with broccoli sprouts in that the Vitamin D receptor is a Nrf2 target gene inducible by sulforaphane, which then upregulates Nrf2 expression levels.

One of the things eating Boring Chicken Vegetable Soup twice a day does is replenish cysteine. I eat that and steel-cut oats (another cysteine source) separately from broccoli sprouts.

I take 1 gram flax oil with breakfast and dinner instead of with broccoli sprouts. Haven’t found relevant research on whether broccoli sprout compounds decrease omega-3 polyunsaturated alpha linolenic acid C18:3 as they do these six endogenous fatty acids.

Both studies investigated effects of fresh broccoli sprouts. Timing of their measured decreases and increases are different for me because I microwave broccoli sprouts up to but not exceeding 60°C (140°F).

A section of Microwave broccoli seeds to create sulforaphane highlighted metabolic differences among fresh broccoli sprouts, microwaved broccoli sprouts, and broccoli sprout supplements.

“A metabolic profile resulting from my current practices is probably between the Sprout and BSE (broccoli sprout extract) divided-dose statistics:

  1. Sulforaphane intake is greater than eating raw broccoli sprouts because microwaving 3-day-old broccoli sprouts creates sulforaphane in them before eating.
  2. Sulforaphane uptake from microwaved broccoli sprouts is quicker than eating raw broccoli sprouts. It may not be as immediate as taking sulforaphane supplements, which are usually powders.
  3. Sulforaphane dose from microwaved broccoli sprouts is less dependent on an individual’s metabolism than eating raw broccoli sprouts.
  4. Sulforaphane release from microwaved broccoli sprouts continues on to the gut as does eating raw broccoli sprouts. Sulforaphane release from supplements may not per Does sulforaphane reach the colon?.”

Metabolism of broccoli sprout glucoraphanin and other glucosinolates that aren’t preferentially hydrolyzed by microwaving and thorough chewing is assisted in the gut twice a day by:

  • 6 billion IU acidophilus; and
  • 750 mg fructo-oligosaccharides.

See Treating psychopathological symptoms will somehow resolve causes? for updates.

Take responsibility for your one precious life – Trained innate immunity

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress, Telomeres , ,

This 2020 review subject was the normal progression of our immune systems:

“Age-related alterations in the immune system result in high susceptibility to infections, increased risk of hospitalization and mortality. Defects in adaptive immunity underlie the markedly low vaccine efficiency in the elderly. Despite reduced cellular functions, a systemic increase in inflammatory markers, so-called inflammaging, is observed in aged individuals.

Trained immunity is a newly emerging concept that showed that innate immune cells possess non-specific immunological memory established through epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming upon encountering certain pathogenic stimuli.

Novel approaches targeting innate immunity to improve host responses are crucial to evade the consequences of the aged immune system. It is an emerging concept that innate immune cells can manifest memory-like properties that are not antigen-specific and exhibit enhanced responsiveness upon later challenges with heterologous stimuli. Whether trained immune responses change as people age is yet to be explored.”

https://academic.oup.com/intimm/advance-article/doi/10.1093/intimm/dxaa052/5885077 “Overcoming immune dysfunction in the elderly: trained immunity as a novel approach”

Previous papers by this review’s corresponding coauthor were curated in:

There’s no reason to rely entirely on the review’s elaborate vaccination schemes to develop trained immunity. Take responsibility for your one precious life and Train your immune system every day!

Eat broccoli sprouts for your hair!

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Acetylcholine, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Neurochemicals, Stress, Testosterone , ,

A trio of papers, with the first a 2017 review exploring broccoli sprout compounds’ effects on head hair:

“Skin appendages, notably hair follicles (HFs), can be exposed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are generated through metabolic reactions occurring mostly in the mitochondria, peroxisomes, and endoplasmic reticulum, as well as in the plasma membrane. Despite their involvement in redox stress and cellular damage, ROS also have key roles in physiological signalling processes, including but not limited to, control of stem cell quiescence / differentiation, regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses and importantly, normal HF development.

HFs are composed of a series of concentric keratinocyte layers with a central hair shaft, all of which are encapsulated by a mesenchymal connective tissue sheath. Within this structure is an area known as the ‘bulge’, housing a population of epithelial and melanocyte stem cells. The hair bulb, the lowermost portion of the HF, contains transient amplifying cells that produce rapidly proliferating matrix keratinocytes that give rise to various cell types of the inner root sheath and hair shaft itself.

Putative impact of NRF2 activation on protection against hair disorders:

  1. Accumulation of excess ROS within crucial HF compartments (i.e. bulb and bulge) can be induced by endogenous and exogenous stressors associated with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata (excessive mast cell degranulation), chemotherapy, UV exposure, and even physiological processes such as melanogenesis.
  2. In the HFSCs [hair follicle stem cells] of the bulge, this can lead to reduced FOXP1 signaling, increased senescence and P21-mediated telogen retention, contributing to hair ageing.
  3. In the hair bulb, negative consequences of excessive ROS can include reduced matrix keratinocyte proliferation and Bcl-2 expression, coupled to increased p53 activity and apoptosis. This redox imbalance may also stimulate dermal papilla-derived TGF-b1 release associated with AGA.
  4. NRF2 activation via SFN [sulforaphane] can induce expression of numerous downstream targets, hence suggesting the potential to counteract excessive ROS and associated pathologies, for example via enhanced clearance of reactive species, detoxification, NADPH generation, and GSH maintenance.
  5. In addition, NRF2 may down-regulate genes that would negatively impact on proliferation and stimulate apoptosis.
  6. Ultimately, activation of NRF2 has the potential to protect against HF miniaturization, chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, HFSC aging, and hair greying, through maintenance of normal redox homeostasis.

Whereas eumelanin (black) is involved in natural UV protection by reducing generation of free radicals, pheomelanin (red) can trigger generation of ROS. It would certainly be interesting to determine whether NRF2 activity is therefore higher in individuals with red as opposed to black hair, in order to mitigate any negative impact from higher ROS generation.

Modulation of NRF2 activity is an attractive approach for further study in prevention of hair greying and HFSC ageing. The remarkable prospect for NRF2 activators in modulating other oxidative stress-linked disease states, strongly advocates for development of NRF2 targeting as a novel strategy in modulating redox-associated disorders of the HF.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bies.201700029 “Oxidative stress management in the hair follicle: Could targeting NRF2 counter age‐related hair disorders and beyond?” (not freely available)

This review was cited in a 2020 Exploring the possibility of predicting human head hair greying from DNA using whole-exome and targeted NGS data study:

“This study aimed to assess the potential of genetic data to predict hair greying in a population of nearly 1000 individuals from Poland. Most prediction information was brought by age alone. Genetic variants explained < 10% of hair greying variation, and the impact of particular SNPs on prediction accuracy was found to be small.

Study population included 673 males (67.4%) and 325 (32.6%) females. Mean age of participants was 30.5 ± 8.8.

Hair greying was recorded in 14.3% of individuals aged 18–30, and prevalence of grey hair was noted to be significantly higher in young males when comparing to young females (17.8 and 9.2%, respectively). Incidence of grey hair increased to 29.5% in the group of people aged 18–40 years, and was 84.2% when people aged ≥40 years were considered.

Because pleiotropy is so common, it would be impossible to predict natural phenotypes avoiding genes involved in determination of pathological phenotypes. The penetrance of individual SNP variants is usually low, and they altogether can only explain a small fraction of predisposition to disease.

Prediction of hair greying status solely based on genetic information is currently impossible.”

A 2020 review had a pertinent evaluation scheme:

“Geroprotectors are pharmacological agents that decrease the rate of aging and extend lifespan. We proposed a set of primary and secondary selection criteria for potential geroprotectors. Primary criteria:

  1. Life extension in experiments with wild type animal models. The geroprotector should prolong life of the model beyond the intact maximum lifespan, protecting it from one or more mechanisms of aging.
  2. Improvement of molecular, cellular, and physiological biomarkers to a younger state, or slow down progression of age-related changes in humans.
  3. Most potential geroprotectors are preventive only when applied at relatively high concentrations. The lifespan-extending dose should be several orders of magnitude less than the toxic dose.
  4. Minimal side effects at the therapeutic dosage at chronic application.
  5. The potential benefit of taking a geroprotector may come after a long period. Potential geroprotectors should initially improve some parameters of health-related quality of life: physical, mental, emotional, or social functioning of the person.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/6/529/htm “Terpenoids as Potential Geroprotectors”

IMG_20200822_064852

Aging as a normal disease

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Brain development, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress , ,

This 2018 review explained:

“Aging is the sum of all age-related diseases. Aging and its diseases are inseparable, as these diseases are manifestations of aging.

An aged appearance (e.g., grey hair, wrinkles, cushingoid body types and loss of muscles) are manifestations of pre-diseases. For example, an aged appearance may reflect hypercortisolism, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, skin pre-diseases.

Instead of healthy aging, we could use the terms pre-disease aging or decelerated aging. Treatments are generally more effective at pre-disease stages, associated with hyper-function, than at disease stages, associated with functional decline.

The decision to treat or not to treat is often determined by whether it is possible to treat.

A treatment that slows aging increases both healthspan (subclinical period) and lifespan, whereas a treatment that increases lifespan (e.g., coronary bypass, defibrillation) is not necessarily increase healthspan. The goal of both anti-aging therapies and preventive medicine is to extend healthspan (by preventing diseases), thus extending total lifespan.

The fact that aging is an obligatory part of the life of all organisms is not important. Aging can be treated as a pre-disease to prevent its progression to diseases. Aging does not need to be defined as a disease to be treated.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6286826/ “Disease or not, aging is easily treatable”



Grow a broccoli sprouts Victory Garden today!

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

By request, here’s what I recommend after growing and eating broccoli sprouts every day for the past twenty weeks.

1. Develop a strategic goal. Eating broccoli sprouts can achieve several goals. Mine has been to address inflammation.

2. Use a relevant model. I used the 2018 clinical trial Effects of long-term consumption of broccoli sprouts on inflammatory markers in overweight subjects. For ten weeks the trial’s subjects daily ate 30 grams of fresh super sprouts that were at least a week old.

3. Develop tactical goals. I initially adopted a goal of 60 grams of regular sprouts started with one tablespoon of broccoli seeds. I follow 3-day-old broccoli sprouts have the optimal yields and Microwave broccoli to increase sulforaphane levels guidelines. A major difference from the model is that I create broccoli sprout hydrolysis compounds just before eating 3-day-old broccoli sprouts by microwaving them.

4. Obtain materials and equipment. Assuming you have a microwave, items that may not already be in your kitchen:

  • Broccoli seeds. A 2.5 lb package may last seven weeks using two tablespoons a day. Vendors of broccoli seeds intended for home sprouting don’t differentiate their products with study evidence, so get what’s affordable.
  • A fine mesh strainer. I use an 8-inch diameter one that isn’t long for this world because it has a lip that catches seeds, coats, and sprouts.
  • Filtered water.
  • A thermometer that can measure up to 60°C (140°F).
  • Seven bowls that hold at least 16 fluid ounces. If your Victory Garden will be one-tablespoon batches started twice a day, it will look something like this, with the seventh bowl in the dishwasher:

5. Adopt methods. If you acknowledge that something you did or didn’t do is probably the cause of variability, you can make improvements.

  • I use a 12-6-6 schedule to rinse broccoli sprouts three times a day. It produces better results than a 12-12 twice daily rinse schedule.
  • I shape batches with a teaspoon so that all sprouts touch.
  • The teaspoon and strainer are rinsed in between straining batches to prevent potential problems in one batch from spreading to others. They are also cleaned in the dishwasher every day.
  • Every a.m. and p.m. I take the five oldest batches off my pantry shelf, and soak them for five minutes.
  • While those five batches are soaking, I start a new batch by soaking one tablespoon of broccoli seeds. The 12-hour-old batch is strained, rinsed, strained again, then both bowls put on my pantry shelf.
  • I strain the five soaking batches, put the four younger ones on the shelf, and close the pantry door.
  • I reimmerse the 3-day-old broccoli sprouts batch in 100 ml filtered water, then microwave it on 1000W full power for 35 seconds to ≤ 60°C (140°F).
  • I strain the microwaved broccoli sprouts, and wait five minutes to allow further myrosinase hydrolization of glucoraphanin and other glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other healthy compounds.
  • I mix in homemade unsalted sauerkraut when I eat microwaved broccoli sprouts. It helps ensure that I thoroughly chew sprouts. Whatever glucosinolate hydrolization hadn’t already taken place will be initiated by chewing.
  • About six hours between starting new a.m. and p.m. batches, I soak the five oldest batches for five minutes, strain them, and put them back on the shelf.

6. Adapt tactics to achieve goals. I didn’t get expected results after five weeks of eating broccoli sprouts started from one tablespoon of seeds, so I doubled the daily starting amount to two tablespoons. I split starting amounts of seeds into a.m. and p.m. one-tablespoon portions after reading A pair of broccoli sprout studies. I don’t eat sprouts immediately before, during, or after meals per Bioavailability of Isothiocyanates From Broccoli Sprouts in Protein, Lipid, and Fiber Gels which found that eating protein, fats, and fiber along with broccoli sprouts lowered compounds’ bioavailability.

7. Never give up. Growing a Victory Garden is a way to take responsibility for your one precious life. The primary enemy of such efforts is Madness of Crowds behavioral contagion. If you can keep that from infecting you, you can look forward to transformational experiences like I had during Week 9.

8. Take a walk every day.

Sleep

gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Acetylcholine, Amygdala, Beliefs, Brainstem, Cerebrum, Cortisol, Epigenetics, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, Immune system, Limbic system, Lower brain, Memory, Neurochemicals, Stress, Testosterone, Vasopressin , , , , , , ,

If you can stand the woo of two Californians trying to outwoo each other, listen to these five podcasts with a sleep scientist.

https://peterattiamd.com/matthewwalker1/

“Ambien, sedation, hypnotives, are not sleep.

Sleep is a life support system. It’s the Swiss army knife of health.

Lack of sleep is like a broken water pipe in your home that leaks down into every nook and cranny of your physiology.

Sleep research is not being transmitted to clinical practice.”

I live on the US East Coast. Hyperbole in normal conversations outside of urban centers is an exception.

It’s different on the West Coast. For example:

  • Interviewer assertions regarding heart rate variability should be compared and contrasted with Dead physiological science zombified by psychological research evidence that:

    “A broad base of further evidence was amassed within human cardiac, circulatory, and autonomic physiology such that the hypotheses do not work as described.”

  • Interviewer favorable comments for MDMA (Ecstasy) “to deal with issues of underlying trauma, anxiety, and depression.”

Week 20 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

Following up Week 19:

1. I went overboard this week with broccoli sprout measurements. Rinsing broccoli sprouts on a 12-6-6 schedule, each day’s WET and DRY a.m. weights were usually less than p.m. weights. But were they significant weight differences?

  1. Having no moisture for 12 hours vs. 6 hours produced a significant difference in DRY a.m. vs. p.m. weights (hypothesis A).
  2. Moisture was the equalizer, though, as WET a.m. vs. p.m. weights weren’t significantly different (hypothesis B).
  3. (hypothesis C) Were a.m. WET weight gain percentages the same as p.m.? No.
  4. Although most of Week 19’s measurements were taken on an 8-8-8 schedule, its 65.5 ± 4.4 g WET average was confirmed by both 61.8 ± 6.2 g a.m. and 66.4 ± 4.7 g p.m. distributions.

I’ll guess that laboratory automated conditions would change differences in DRY a.m. vs. p.m. weights (A) and WET weight gain percentages (C) to become insignificant. IAW, removing human causes of variability would improve results.

2. Per Week 19’s item 2, eating protein, fats, and fiber along with broccoli sprouts lowered compounds’ bioavailability. I’m looking for accompaniments that won’t have adverse effects.

Eating 60+ grams of broccoli sprouts twice a day is a lot. Mixing in sauerkraut tastes alright, but commercial brands have too much sodium.

3. It’s been 11 weeks since I posted A claim of improved cognitive function. I made many such connections after a transformational Week 9.

I had no idea that would happen. And I won’t come down no more.

4. Tomorrow will be Day 140 of eating broccoli sprouts every day. I’ve successfully addressed inflammation, and will maintain current practices.

Left ankle and knee twinges are among reminders of other aging phenotype aspects. The body clock reset described in An environmental signaling paradigm of aging apparently requires more than what I’ve been doing.

Somebody tell my mother if I die

gettingwell4 Just me

not

I’m fine, thank you.

I was making Boring Chicken Vegetable Soup for dinner, staring into the filling garbage, and thought of this song from fifty years ago. Followed by its Vietnam-era moan. Most of that band is dead now, BTW.

And for today’s young people:

“1984
Knockin’ on your door
Will you let it come?
Will you let it run your life?

It’s time you started thinking inside your head
That you should stand up and fight
Oh just where will you be when your freedom is dead
Won’t you listen tonight?”

Eat broccoli sprouts for your skin!

gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

This 2020 Swiss review subject was the interaction of Nrf2 activators and skin:

“The electrophile and Nrf2 activator dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an established and efficient drug for patients suffering from the common inflammatory skin disease psoriasis. DMF is being tested for pharmacological activity in several other inflammatory skin conditions.

dmf

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–4% of the population and plaque psoriasis is the most common type, affecting about 90% of all patients. As about 30% of all patients suffer from moderate and severe psoriasis, there is a strong need for efficient systemic treatment options with few side effects.

SFN [sulforaphane] blocks NF-κB activity by several mechanisms. SFN oxidizes IκB, thereby inhibiting its phosphorylation and downstream NF-κB activation, but also targets specific cysteine residues of p50/p65, causing a reduction in DNA binding.

More indirect effects have also been suggested. SFN induces HO-1 expression via Nrf2, which in turn inhibits NF-κB. The isothiocyanate can also react with and oxidize components of cellular redox buffers, such as glutathione and thioredoxin, which are required to retain NF-κB’s DNA-binding capacity.

NLRP3 is believed to be critically involved in common diseases, whereas its role in immunity is rather minor. The mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation are of high medical interest.

Electrophiles can directly inhibit inflammasome activation. SFN inhibits activation of NLRP3 in the absence of NRF2 expression in a very fast manner, suggesting that transcriptional effects are not relevant for NLRP3 inhibition. SFN inhibits NLRP3 even in KEAP1 knockout cells.

All these results demonstrate that electrophiles can inhibit the inflammasome pathway in a direct manner, perhaps via the modification of reactive cysteine residues of inflammasome proteins or those which regulate activation of these complexes.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7072181/ “Electrophiles against (Skin) Diseases: More Than Nrf2”

These reviewers focused on a pharmaceutical. Read this article for progress made on a generic:

“Biogen is expected to appeal this ruling against its Tecfidera patent protection, which is not due to expire until 2028. Its list price is reported to be about $2,026 for a two-week (14 day) supply at 120 mg.

‘The District Court decision clears the legal pathway for us to bring our dimethyl fumarate product to market, and we are working with the FDA to accelerate our regulatory approval target action date, which currently is November 16.'”

Broccoli or Sulforaphane: Is It the Source or Dose That Matters? listed 15 mouse studies and 4 human studies of sulforaphane treatments of skin diseases in Supplementary Material Table S3.

From Novel Nrf2 activators from microbial transformation products inhibit blood–retinal barrier permeability in rabbits:

“The cysteine residue of sulforaphane works as a weak electrophile and it interacts with cysteine residues of Keap1. Dimethyl fumarate is also a weak electrophile.

Nrf2 activity was evaluated by NQO1 induction activity in Hepa1c1c7 cells. RS9 was the most potent and the concentration needed to double (CD) the specific Nrf2 activity was 0.2 nM. The CD values for bardoxolone methyl, sulforaphane and dimethyl fumarate were 0.9 nM, 154.4 nM and 13.3 μM respectively.”

1. This review didn’t mention dimethyl fumarate’s NQO1 induction CD value because..? It’s one of Nrf2 signaling pathway’s main studied parameters, along with HO-1. For example, from Autism biomarkers and sulforaphane:

“This time point was chosen based on our earlier observations of kinetics of upregulation of Nrf2-dependent genes by SF, and was expected to capture increased mRNA production of both very fast (HO-1) and relatively slow (NQO1) responders.”

2. What about adverse effects? From Sulforaphane and RNAs:

“DMF is the most successful Nrf2 activator, FDA-approved in 2013 for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. However, DMF causes leukopenia and other side-effects.

Bardoxolone cleared Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, but was halted in Phase III trials due to cardiovascular concerns.”

3. What about prevention mechanisms for skin problems? Skin care isn’t just cancer prevention.

So – what can a person do to treat an inflammation problem in our largest organ, our skin?

  • Pay $2,026 every two weeks to take a daily 120 mg dose of a brand name pharmaceutical?
  • Wait around for some hypothetical future “development of new tailor-made molecules and drugs for the many inflammatory conditions which are associated with Nrf2, NF-κB and inflammasomes”?
  • Try other treatments that just address symptoms, not causes?

Or eat daily clinically-relevant broccoli sprout dosages for < $500 a year?

Week 19 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress

To follow up Week 18:

1. Continued attention to broccoli sprout gardening details was this week’s theme. The 12-6-6 schedule had an extra rinse during lunch time.

I stopped when the 8/3 evening batch smelled bad. Broccoli sprouts don’t do well with too much moisture.

I didn’t have this problem on a 12-12 schedule of two rinses. But I also didn’t have good yields.

I switched to an 8-8-8 schedule, and the problem didn’t recur. However, intervals were 5:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. That led to eating broccoli sprouts too early and too late, and disrupting my sleep.

8-8-8 also didn’t produce optimal yields. The top two yields this week were both on 8/5. Those two batches started on 8/2, and apparently benefited from a 12-6-6 schedule during their initial germination stages.

I switched back to 12-6-6 on 8/7 with an extra step of rinsing my strainer and teaspoon between batch rinses. Not sure this step addresses whatever happened on 8/3, but it protects against one batch’s problems spreading to other batches. I’ll continue 12-6-6 unless I cause moisture problems, in which case I’ll return to a 12-12 routine.

The (65.5 gram x 2) = 131 g daily average of this week’s broccoli sprouts has been factored into Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds numbers for broccoli seeds, sprouts and their compounds. Some worst-case scenarios change to evidenced estimates, such as consuming 52 mg sulforaphane daily by microwaving 131 g of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts.

I’ll update the many blog posts that reference these estimates. Most of them can be recognized from strikethrough typography.

2. During the 8-8-8 schedule I ate microwaved broccoli sprouts with supplements and sauerkraut instead of during a meal. I wondered if meal composition made any difference to broccoli sprout compounds. My meals are breakfast started with 1/2 cup (82 grams) of steel-cut oats, Boring Chicken Vegetable Soup for dinner, and leftover soup at lunch.

A 2018 Netherlands study Bioavailability of Isothiocyanates From Broccoli Sprouts in Protein, Lipid, and Fiber Gels found:

“Compared to the control broccoli sprout, incorporation of sprouts in gels led to lower bioavailability for preformed sulforaphane and iberin.”

IAW, eating protein, fats, and fiber along with microwaved broccoli sprouts wouldn’t help. So I’ll keep eating them with supplements for synergies* but not immediately before or after meals.

A 2018 review with some of the same researchers Isothiocyanates from Brassica Vegetables-Effects of Processing, Cooking, Mastication, and Digestion offered one possible explanation for protein acting to lower broccoli sprout compounds’ bioavailability:

“In vitro studies show that ITCs can potentially react with amino acids, peptides, and proteins, and this reactivity may reduce the ITC bioavailability in protein‐rich foods. More in vivo studies should be performed to confirm the outcome obtained in vitro.”

3. I mix in homemade sauerkraut when I eat microwaved broccoli sprouts. It helps ensure that I thoroughly chew sprouts. Wouldn’t expect anyone else to like unsalted sauerkraut.


Continued with Week 20 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts.

*See Broccoli sprout synergies for details.

Sulforaphane clinical trials and COVID-19

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

A plethora of articles have been published this year on how researchers’ favorite topics can / may / should / could / will fix COVID-19. This one was different in that relevant clinical trials were both completed and already underway before a Madness of Crowds behavioral contagion infected us:

“It is crucial to understand the most appropriate context for introducing an anti-inflammatory therapy to complement an antiviral therapy. Such therapy must control inflammation without altering the ability of the host to mount an efficient adaptive immune response against the virus.

We propose that boosting endogenous cellular defenses by targeting the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2 (gene name NFE2L2) will promote the resolution of COVID-19 associated inflammation and also restore redox homeostasis and facilitate tissue repair.

The isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN) is the most potent naturally occurring NRF2 activator, with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The high bioavailability of SFN makes it an excellent candidate for alleviating excessive anti-inflammatory responses and protecting the lungs.

Even though Nrf2 is the primary mediator, additional factors contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of SFN. SFN inhibits NF-κB, inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit β (IKKβ), and STAT3.

By regulating the endogenous cytoprotective systems, Nrf2 may have a more physiological role in achieving a balance between the beneficial and adverse effects of inflammation. Nrf2 inhibits IL-6 and IL-1β gene expression.

Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of Nrf2 activation are long-lasting and persist for several days after inducer elimination. They are mediated by enzymes that, in contrast to small molecules, have long half-lives and are not consumed, and are instead regenerated during the reactions which they catalyze.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7359808/ “Can Activation of Nfr2 Be a Strategy against COVID-19?”

The paper also documented in vitro, animal, and non-clinical human Nrf2 activator studies relevant to causes and effects.

Drying broccoli sprouts

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Memory, Stress

This 2020 Polish study investigated dried broccoli sprouts characteristics:

“The aim of this study was to quantify the air-drying and freeze-drying kinetics of broccoli sprouts. The Page model exhibited a very good fit to experimental data obtained by both air-drying and freeze-drying techniques. Time of germination had less effect on drying kinetics of broccoli sprouts.

Water activity (aw) of fresh broccoli sprouts was 0.999 ± 0.03 and moisture content 82.6% (w.b.). Drying reduced the value of aw (between 0.287 ± 0.04 (freeze-dried sprouts) and 0.293 ± 0.06 (air-dried sprouts at 40 °C)).

Highest total phenolics content and antioxidant activity were observed in air-dried sprouts (40 °C) and freeze-dried sprouts.

Drying curves of dried broccoli sprouts after 3 days of germination with experimental and predicted data based on the Page model: MR-moisture ratio, SPD40, SPD60 and SPD80-sprouts air-dried at 40, 60 and 80 °C, respectively, SPF-freeze-dried sprouts. [x axis in minutes]

Processes were continued until moisture of samples decreased to 10% (±0.5%) wet basis (w.b.).”

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/8/1/97/htm “Drying Kinetics, Grinding Characteristics, and Physicochemical Properties of Broccoli Sprouts”

Repeating a relevant section from Are sulforaphane supplements better than microwaved broccoli sprouts?, I contacted a distributor of a dried broccoli sprout powder. In correspondence the company founder said:

“Each 700 mg capsules yields around 15mg sulforaphane.”

The company founder has written several reviews, one of which was the 2016 Sulforaphane and Other Nutrigenomic Nrf2 Activators: Can the Clinician’s Expectation Be Matched by the Reality? Section 6.5 Sulforaphane stated:

“By calculation, MYR [myrosinase]-active whole broccoli sprout supplement yielding 1% SFN could deliver 10 mg SFN per gram of powder, corresponding to ~12 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts (dried powder retains ~8% moisture).”

I asked the current study’s lead coauthor for actual figures because eyeballing the above kinetics chart, the 60°C end point looks closer to 6% than 8%. No reply yet. 6% moisture content would give a 16.7-to-1 ratio.

Per Week 18 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts, twice a day I start a new batch of broccoli sprouts with one tablespoon (10.7 grams) broccoli seeds of unspecified variety. Per Week 19, wet-basis (soaked five minutes then drained) weights of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts average 65.5 grams, consumed twice a day.

Let’s assume for calculation purposes:

  • The 2016 review’s 12-to-1 ratio of fresh broccoli sprouts weight-to-dried broccoli sprout weight is fairly representative; and
  • Recent 65.5 grams average of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts consumed twice a day is fairly representative.

Calculations based on personal correspondence:

  • Sulforaphane yield of one vendor’s dried broccoli sprouts is 15 mg / 700 mg capsule = 2.14%.
  • Using the review’s 12-to-1 ratio, a dried broccoli sprout equivalent of my daily consumption would be (65.5 g x 2) / 12 = 10.9 grams.
  • A sulforaphane equivalent would be 10.9 g x 2.14% = 233 mg.

If I use this study’s “82.6% (w.b.)” rather than the review’s 12-to-1 ratio, a sulforaphane equivalent would be more than twice as much:

  • A dried broccoli sprout equivalent of fresh broccoli sprouts would be (65.5 g x 2) x (1 – .826) = 22.8 grams.
  • A sulforaphane equivalent would be 22.8 g x 2.14% = 488 mg.

These are both much too high. What isn’t right?

Subsequent investigation of a distributor’s site found this table:

autism sprout powder

The study referenced for equivalence was Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Calculations:

  • The 100 µmol sulforaphane amount for 90 kg participants weighed 17.73 mg per https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sulforaphane.
  • The equivalent broccoli sprout powder sulforaphane yield is 0.01773 / 3.6 g = 0.4925%. That’s 5 mg of sulforaphane per gram of broccoli sprout powder.
  • 0.4925% / 2.14% = 0.23. Decrementing the above sulforaphane weights gives 233 mg x .23 = 54 mg, and 488 mg x .23 = 112 mg.

The answer to my question What isn’t right? I relied on private correspondence rather than what a vendor publicly disclosed.

I’m not particularly concerned about analytical uncertainties for myself. Whatever the numbers are, microwaving techniques for fresh broccoli sprouts increase them.

I immerse 3-day-old broccoli sprouts in 100 ml distilled water, then microwave them on 1000W full power for 35 seconds to ≤ 60°C (140°F) per Microwave broccoli to increase sulforaphane levels. After microwaving I transfer broccoli sprouts to a strainer, and wait five minutes to allow further myrosinase hydrolization of glucoraphanin and other glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other healthy compounds.

Broccoli sprout drying techniques don’t increase sulforaphane content as does microwaving. A broccoli sprout powder vendor has to take care that their drying process doesn’t hydrolyze glucosinolates, because sulforaphane degrades quickly unless it’s stabilized.

A study compared in Measuring sulforaphane plasma compounds used a stabilized product made from broccoli seeds. One of that study’s findings was:

“We evaluated stability of SF concentration in these tablets when maintained at -20 °C. Decline in SF content in 2 separate lots, shipped in boxes containing blisterpacks of tablet measured over 1.5 years, equates to about 17.8% per year.”

Those researchers stipulated a sulforaphane amount of 94.4 μmol in two tablets given to study subjects. The sulforaphane amount would have been (1 / 0.1773 mg) x 10 mg x 2 = 112.8 μmol if that study’s researchers had found the labelled 10 mg sulforaphane weight in each tablet.

The product’s sulforaphane stabilized for a short time, yes. But it measurably degraded over 1.5 years despite favorable storage conditions.

Wouldn’t it be better to create broccoli sprout hydrolysis compounds by microwaving them just before eating, rather than depending on vendor claims or individual metabolism?

Week 18 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress

1. After eating broccoli sprouts every day for 120 consecutive days, I finally got serious enough to spend $16 on a kitchen scale. 🙂 It’s really a jewelers scale, as it has carat, grain, and troy ounce units of measure in addition to gram and ounce.

Twice a day I start a new batch of broccoli sprouts with one tablespoon broccoli seeds of unspecified variety. I measured successive tablespoons at 10.2, 11.4, and 10.6 grams, and have since started each new batch with 10.7 grams of broccoli seeds.

Each new batch soaks for 12 hours. I rehydrate the other five batches for five minutes before draining, and clump together developing sprouts to look like this:

At room temperature and darkness, each drained batch is close to being completely dry every 12 hours. Laboratories provide water more frequently during germination.

The below weight measurements of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts are dry and wet (soaked five minutes then drained). Microwaving acts directly on a material’s water content, so I don’t microwave dry broccoli sprouts.

The trend reminds me of an initial step of quality programs – improvements start with measurements.

I’ve used Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds worst-cases in estimates of broccoli seeds, sprouts and their compounds. I’ve factored these estimates with the above numbers. Compare them with strikethrough numbers – you may be surprised.

I won’t update posts where I’ve used these new estimates quite yet. A convenient action for my work-from-home-during-this-manufactured-crisis situation would be to rinse developing broccoli sprouts at lunch time, about 6 hours into their current 12-hour cycle. I’ll try that for a few days to see if it’s an improvement.

2. I reordered broccoli seeds from the same vendor. Their label is cropped so that its information will neither be mistaken for an endorsement, nor confused with originating from any basis in science:

The label’s Serving Size is new. I moved from one to two tablespoons after Week 5 of Changing an inflammatory phenotype with broccoli sprouts.

I contacted the company for further clarification:

“Just received broccoli seeds. I notice that Serving Size is two tablespoons. Is there any specific research you can point me to for understanding the two tablespoons?”

They responded:

“If I understand correctly you are using the broccoli seed for sprouting?

If so, the 2 Tablespoon size is a recommendation/guideline, depending on the size jar you are using and how much you would prefer to yield. 2 Tablespoons – 1/2 cup is a good range to stay within for sprouts to have room to grow and be rinsed properly ( for most sprouting jars).

Serving size for eating is subjective and you should sprout, sprout, sprout if they are a regular to your daily meals 😊

Please let us know more about your inquiry so we can best help, thanks. 🌼”

“Subjective” is probably the basis of other vendors’ recommendations as well. At least this vendor now uses the word “seeds” on their broccoli seeds package label.

Continued with Week 19 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts.