Abstract
Use of antioxidant components is a new approach for improvement of insulin resistance (IR) as a main feature of type 2 diabetes and its complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of broccoli sprouts powder (BSP) containing high concentration of sulphoraphane on IR in type 2 diabetic patients. Eighty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive 10 g/d BSP (A, n = 27), 5 g/d BSP (B, n = 29) and placebo (C, n = 25) for 4 weeks. Fasting serum glucose and insulin concentration, glucose to insulin ratio and homoeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index were measured at baseline and again 4 weeks after treatment. Seventy-two patients completed the study and 63 were included in the analysis. After 4 weeks, consumption of 10 g/d BSP resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin concentration and HOMA-IR (p = 0.05 for treatment effect). Therefore, broccoli sprouts may improve IR in type 2 diabetic patients.
Acknowledgement
The authors express appreciation to the participants of this study and would like to acknowledge Ms N. Shiva for language editing of the manuscript and the assistance given by Mr N. Bahadoran for the purchase of broccoli sprouts powder.
Declarations of interest: This study was funded by the Research Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.