Sulforaphane and isothiocyanate goitrogen concerns | Rhonda Patrick
Enter your email to get our 15-page guide to sprouting broccoli and learn about the science of chemoprotective compount sulforaphane.
Broccoli sprouts are concentrated sources of sulforaphane, a type of isothiocyanate. Damaging broccoli sprouts – when chewing, chopping, or freezing – triggers an enzymatic reaction in the tiny plants that produces sulforaphane.

Get the full length version of this episode as a podcast.
This episode will make a great companion for a long drive.
Some concerns have arisen that sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate compound derived from certain cruciferous vegetables, may disrupt thyroid hormone function and potentially act as a goitrogen by competing with iodine uptake. Long-term studies in iodine-deficient or hypothyroid animals showed no ill effects with high dose sulforaphane supplementation, however. While iodine deficiency is rare, a person considering sulforaphane supplementation should consult their physician to have their thyroid hormone levels monitored. In this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick describes the potential interaction between sulforaphane and iodine and stresses that iodine-deficient people or those with hypothyroidism should work with their physician to monitor thyroid hormone levels.
Hear new content from Rhonda on The Aliquot, our member's only podcast

Listen in on our regularly curated interview segments called "Aliquots" released every week on our premium podcast The Aliquot. Aliquots come in two flavors: features and mashups.
- Hours of deep dive on topics like fasting, sauna, child development surfaced from our enormous collection of members-only Q&A episodes.
- Important conversational highlights from our interviews with extra commentary and value. Short but salient.
Sulforaphane News
- Sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract modestly lowers fasting blood sugar in some people with prediabetes, perhaps due to variations in gut microbiota and individual metabolic traits.
- Sulforaphane, derived from broccoli, activates Nrf2, mitigating age-related skin changes and boosting the antioxidant defense system in mice.
- Sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts shows promise in preventing Alzheimer's disease – boosting memory and enhancing mitochondrial function in mice.
- Breathwork enhances endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity to counter oxidative stress.
- Every 1 percent drop in body weight slows brain aging by nearly nine months, highlighting the substantial, and often overlooked, neuroprotective benef