Sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli, extends lifespan by over 50% and reduces biological aging by 20% in roundworms when administered early in life. Digest
Compounds derived from cruciferous vegetables may influence not only disease prevention but also the fundamental processes of aging. A recent roundworm study found that sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, extended lifespan by more than 50%, but only when taken early in life.
Scientists administered varying doses of sulforaphane to roundworms (a robust aging model) throughout different stages of their lives. They also monitored changes in gene activity over time to create an “aging clock” based on transcription patterns—essentially a readout of the worms' biological age determined by which genes were activated or deactivated.
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The worms that received sulforaphane early in life lived considerably longer—more than 50% longer at the most effective dose—than untreated worms. The aging clock also showed that these worms appeared to be about 20% younger, biologically speaking, than untreated worms of the same chronological age. The most notable shifts in gene activity involved detoxification and stress-response pathways, suggesting that sulforaphane triggers system-wide protective responses early in life.
These findings suggest that sulforaphane could promote healthy aging by activating the body’s natural defense systems, but timing matters, with early-life intervention being crucial. Notably, most human clinical trials use sulforaphane doses ranging from 30 to 100 micromoles daily (approximately 5 to 18 milligrams). These doses are typically delivered as glucoraphanin—the precursor to sulforaphane—paired with myrosinase to enhance conversion in the body. Learn more about sulforaphane in this episode featuring Dr. Jed Fahey.