Short-term sulforaphane precursor supplementation (200 µmol/day for 2 weeks) significantly attenuated exercise-induced muscle damage biomarkers (creatine kinase and myoglobin) and modulated oxidative stress percent changes from baseline, without altering endurance capacity in healthy adults.
Key Findings
Results
SFN supplementation significantly attenuated serum creatine kinase (CK) activity following maximal exercise compared to placebo.
Statistically significant interaction between supplement and CK activity (p = 0.034)
SFN group CK: 121.52 ± 16.89; placebo group CK: 291.84 ± 133.07
Study used a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design with 14 healthy participants (7 males, 7 females)
Supplementation period was 2 weeks at 200 µmol/day of SFN glucosinolate capsules, with a 3-week washout between conditions
Blood samples were collected at baseline, pre-exercise, post-exercise, and 2 hours after each exercise session
Results
SFN supplementation significantly reduced serum myoglobin (Mb) concentration following maximal exercise compared to placebo.
Statistically significant interaction between supplement and myoglobin concentration (p = 0.011)
SFN group Mb: 15.82 ± 1.95; placebo group Mb: 27.31 ± 5.71
Myoglobin is a biomarker of muscle damage and its attenuation suggests reduced exercise-induced muscle injury
Measurements were taken post-exercise and 2 hours after each exercise session
Results
Percent changes from baseline in d-ROMs (reactive oxygen metabolites) showed a significant interaction with SFN supplementation, though absolute values did not differ significantly.
Significant interaction in percent change from baseline for d-ROMs (p = 0.038)
No significant differences were observed in absolute values of oxidative stress markers
d-ROMs test measures circulating reactive oxygen metabolites as an indicator of oxidative stress
Results
Percent changes from baseline in OXY-adsorbent test values (a measure of antioxidant capacity) showed a significant interaction with SFN supplementation, though absolute values did not differ significantly.
Significant interaction in percent change from baseline for OXY-adsorbent test (p = 0.032)
The study population consisted of 14 healthy young adults in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial design.
7 males and 7 females participated; mean age 25.07 ± 1.04 years
Mean weight 65.28 ± 4.13 kg; mean height 170.07 ± 3.46 cm; mean BMI 22.48 ± 0.91
Crossover design included a 3-week washout period between conditions to minimize carryover effects
SFN was administered as glucosinolate (SFN precursor) capsules at 200 µmol/day for 2 weeks
What This Means
This research suggests that taking a broccoli-derived compound called sulforaphane (SFN) for two weeks before intense exercise may help reduce signs of muscle damage in the blood. In this small study, 14 healthy young adults completed a maximal exercise test after two weeks of either SFN supplement capsules or a placebo, then switched treatments after a washout period. Those who took SFN had notably lower blood levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin after exercise — both proteins that leak into the bloodstream when muscle tissue is damaged — compared to when they took the placebo.
The study also found that measures of oxidative stress (harmful byproducts of intense metabolism) and antioxidant capacity changed more favorably in the SFN group when looking at percent changes from each participant's starting point, even though raw absolute values did not differ significantly between groups. Importantly, SFN did not improve or worsen physical endurance performance or blood cell counts, suggesting its effect was specific to the biochemical response to exercise rather than athletic output.
This research suggests that short-term sulforaphane supplementation may offer a modest, non-invasive way to dampen the acute muscle damage and oxidative stress response triggered by hard exercise in healthy, physically active people. Because the study was small (14 participants) and described by the authors themselves as a 'proof of principle,' larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine optimal doses and timing. Still, the results point to sulforaphane — a natural compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli — as a potentially useful nutritional strategy for supporting recovery from strenuous physical activity.
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Ruhee R, Wakasugi-Onogi S, Ma S, Nakamura N, Seki Y, Suzuki K. (2026). Proof of Principle: Short-Term Sulforaphane Precursor Intake Alters Selected Circulating Oxidative Stress and Muscle Damage Biomarkers Following Maximal Exercise: A Double-Blind Crossover Trial.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18162617