Related Episodes for The Evidence Behind Four Supplements Rhonda Patrick Takes

“A 12-month randomized controlled trial found that vitamin D supplementation improved cognitive function, intelligence quotient scores, telomere length, and lowered oxidative stress markers in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (compared to placebo), suggesting that not only does vitamin D supplementation improve biomarkers of aging, but also functional outcomes.”

“A 2025 meta-analysis found improved quality of life, no clear overall change in ejection fraction, and a borderline improvement in New York Heart Association functional class across a small set of trials.”

“A meta-analysis restricted to direct regional measures from MRI, CT, or ultrasound found a very small average hypertrophy benefit when creatine was combined with resistance training, with uncertainty around the pooled estimate and variation across sites and populations.”

“In a four-month randomized trial of 88 overweight, untrained middle-aged adults, daily doses of 500 or 1,000 milligrams improved some muscle and mitochondrial measures, while the primary outcome of peak power did not significantly improve.”

“Choosing a supplement that contains both glucoraphanin (the precursor to sulforaphane), as well as myrosinase (the enzyme that converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane), is crucial to ensuring optimal sulforaphane delivery.”

“Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate compound derived from broccoli sprouts and certain cruciferous vegetables, exerts a wide range of beneficial effects in humans. Some of these effects are mediated by increased glutathione, one of the body's most potent antioxidants, to promote brain health.”

“For example, sulforaphane promotes the urinary excretion of benzene and acrolein, toxic compounds present in air pollution. But sulforaphane also demonstrates remarkable antibacterial activity: It reduces populations of Helicobacter pylori, or H.”

“The conversion of glucoraphanin to sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts requires myrosinase, an enzyme co-located within the leaves, stems, and other components of the plants. Food preparation techniques like freezing or cooking can either enhance or hinder maximal sulforaphane production from the sprouts.”

“Air pollution leaves a biological fingerprint on our lungs, our blood vessels, and even our brains, eroding the body's defenses, triggering inflammation, weakening the blood-brain barrier, and accelerating cognitive decline.”

“Sulforaphane switches on mechanisms that protect against cancer and other environmental insults. Sulforaphane is produced when the plants' cells are damaged by chewin or chopping and some culinary "hacks" favor its production.”