Are there risks to sulforaphane?

Sulforaphane, generally associated with many health benefits, can also pose risks at high concentrations. Most substances, including sulforaphane, exhibit a hormetic effect where they are beneficial at low to moderate levels but potentially harmful at very high levels. This is due to the universal nature of toxicity, meaning that even beneficial substances can become harmful if taken in excessive amounts.

In a discussion with Dr. Jed Fahey, it was emphasized that while the consumption of foods containing sulforaphane like broccoli and broccoli sprouts is widely regarded as safe and beneficial, the principle that “everything has a level of toxicity” applies here as well. Overconsumption could potentially lead to negative effects, although specifics on what those effects could be were not detailed 1.