Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
Health & Fitness

Did You Know? Broccoli may curb autism

Darpan News Desk IANS, 14 Oct, 2014 10:44 AM
  • Did You Know? Broccoli may curb autism
A study led by an Indian-origin researcher has found evidence that daily treatment with sulphoraphane - a molecule found in foods such as broccoli - may improve some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders.
 
Participants receiving a daily dose of sulforaphane showed improvement in both behavioural and communication assessments in as little as four weeks.
 
Two thirds of the participants were less irritable, lethargic, better motivated, able to communicate and had less repetitive movements.
 
"The average scores for each of the assessments were significantly better for the 26 participants receiving sulforaphane than for the 14 who received a placebo," said lead author, Kanwaljit Singh from the MassGeneral Hospital.
 
The study enrolled young men, aged 13 to 27, who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder.
 
Participants were randomly assigned to a daily dose of either sulforaphane - extracted from broccoli sprouts - or a placebo, with neither investigators, participants nor their care givers knowing who was receiving the study drug.
 
Overall, 17 of the 26 participants, who received sulforaphane were judged by their care givers to have improvements in behaviour, social interaction and calmness while on active treatment.
 
After 18 weeks of treatment, the average scores on two assessments - the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) - of those who received sulforaphane had decreased 34 and 17 percent respectively.
 
"The improvements seen on the SRS were particularly remarkable" said co-corresponding author Andrew Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Massachusetts in the US.
 
"I have been told this is the first time that any statistically significant improvement on the SRS has been seen for a drug study in autism spectrum disorder," Zimmerman noted.
 
The findings appeared online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.

MORE Health & Fitness ARTICLES

Natural Choices to Combat Ageing

Natural Choices to Combat Ageing
One can achieve a perfect skin by including turmeric, ginger and green leafy vegetables in the food intake, says an expert.

Natural Choices to Combat Ageing

Yoga can ease stress for pregnant women

Yoga can ease stress for pregnant women
Practicing yoga during pregnancy can help you reap health benefits like stress reduction and a decrease in a woman’s fear of childbirth, according to researchers.

Yoga can ease stress for pregnant women

40 is not too late to hit the gym

40 is not too late to hit the gym
Even if you are above 40, it is not too late to hit the gym as researchers have found that "relatively intense" endurance exercises confer benefits on the heart irrespective of the age at which a person begins fitness training.

40 is not too late to hit the gym

Health Care: Sneeze-proof Summer

Health Care: Sneeze-proof Summer
During summer time hay fever, a condition that shows signs similar to a cold with sneezing, is common. Two-thirds of sufferers claim that their current treatment isn’t helping to alleviate the symptoms, so here are some tips that can help people sneeze-proof their summer.

Health Care: Sneeze-proof Summer

Mother's Day Special: Tips to make motherhood enjoyable, stress free

Mother's Day Special: Tips to make motherhood enjoyable, stress free
In an attempt to fulfil the responsibility of both personal and professional life, mothers forget to give time to them. This Mother's Day, on May 11, an expert suggests that moms should rest and rejuvenate, focus on work-life balance and be themselves to make the most of their journey.

Mother's Day Special: Tips to make motherhood enjoyable, stress free

Need A Partner For Workout? Try Dogs

Need A Partner For Workout? Try Dogs
Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Amanda Seyfried and Nikki Reed are just a few of the stars who were spotted out and about with their pooches, and now it’s time you too did the same.

Need A Partner For Workout? Try Dogs