Broccoli Sprout Extract for Glycemic Management in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: A...

Glucoraphanin, a precursor of sulforaphane (SFN), is found in high concentrations in broccoli sprout extract (BSE) and has been shown to have antioxidant effects and to improve glucose control in type 2 diabetes (T2D). This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to investigate whether BSE could improve glucose control in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and T2D.

This multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled RCT included adult patients with T2D and CKD stages 3b-4. Participants were randomized to receive an incremental dose of BSE (maximum 150 μmol/day BSE (750 μmol SFN)) or placebo. The use BSE or placebo lasted 12 weeks (week 1 to 13) plus 8 weeks (week 14 to 21) with no intervention. The main outcome was improvement in glycemic control.

99 patients were included, and 91 completed the study. Mean age was 74±7 years, 69% men and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 28±7 mL/min/1.73 m². There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. In an intention-to-treat analysis, there were no statistically significant differences between groups in fasting glucose, insulin or HbA1c levels after 13 weeks or at 21 weeks of follow-up (end of study). Similarly, no statistically significant differences were observed between both groups in these variables in a per protocol analysis.

In patients with T2D and moderate CKD, 12 weeks of treatment with BSE with progressing dose (50 to 150 μmol/day BSE) did not result in statistically significant changes in measures related with glycemic control.