Researchers at Swinburne University have found that sulforaphane, a naturally occurring compound in broccoli, can increase levels of frataxin—a protein present in insufficient amounts in people with Friedreich ataxia—and protect vulnerable nerve cells from damage, Science Daily reported. The findings raise hopes for an affordable, accessible treatment for the rare genetic disease, which progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and currently has no cure.
Friedreich Ataxia Steals Movement, Speech and Years of Life
Friedreich ataxia causes nerve cells to gradually deteriorate, robbing patients of their ability to coordinate movements, walk and speak. The condition can also shorten life expectancy. Approximately 200 Australians are living with the disease. In Friedreich ataxia, a genetic defect leads to reduced production of frataxin, a protein that keeps high-energy-demand cells—particularly nerve cells—functioning properly. The resulting damage progresses over time.
Sulforaphane Targets the Underlying Cause
In the new study, scientists found that sulforaphane can boost frataxin levels and influence several biological processes involved in disease progression, including cellular stress and inflammation. Addressing multiple sources of damage at once could make the compound a valuable candidate for further investigation, according to the researchers.
Associate Professor Faith Kwa, the lead researcher at Swinburne University, said the discovery brings researchers closer to a future where children with the disease experience better quality of life, greater independence and an improved chance of long-term survival.
Children Account for a Large Share of Patients
Children make up a large proportion of those affected by Friedreich ataxia, yet no treatments specifically approved for pediatric patients are currently available. Kwa described the disease as one that “progressively steals a child’s ability to walk, speak, play, and ultimately survive.” She said the novel therapeutic agent could target the underlying cause while delivering an affordable and accessible therapy worldwide.
Established Safety Record Could Speed Rollout
Sulforaphane already has an established safety record in both children and adults, and purified, biologically active forms are commercially available. If clinical trials prove successful, these advantages could accelerate the path to patient impact, Kwa said. However, further research is essential before scientists can determine whether the promising findings translate into meaningful benefits for patients.
Swinburne Team Seeks Funding for Clinical Trials
The Swinburne team hopes to secure financial support for clinical trials that would examine whether sulforaphane delivers the same effects in people living with the disease. The rarity of Friedreich ataxia creates additional challenges, Kwa explained, because limited public awareness makes it harder to attract the funding needed to investigate treatments. “Even if we can raise awareness of this debilitating condition or improve one person’s quality of life, our efforts will have been worth it,” she said.
Questions Readers Ask About the Broccoli Compound
Can patients take sulforaphane now? Not as a treatment. Researchers stress that clinical trials must confirm the compound works in people before it can be prescribed, even though purified forms are commercially available as supplements.
Why is funding difficult to secure? Because only about 200 Australians have the disease, public awareness remains limited, making it harder to attract research investment compared with more common conditions.
What happens next? The Swinburne team is seeking funding to launch clinical trials; no date for trial commencement has been announced.
The researchers hope their work will advance treatment possibilities and bring greater attention to a condition that remains largely unknown to the public.