The Claim
After consumption of broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane metabolites are primarily excreted in urine, with negligible amounts detected in feces, indicating that biliary excretion is not a major elimination pathway in humans.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
When humans eat broccoli sprouts, the body removes sulforaphane metabolites mainly through urine, and very little is removed through stool, meaning the liver does not play a major role in getting rid of these compounds.
See the scientific wording
Sulforaphane metabolites are primarily excreted through urine, with negligible amounts detected in stool, indicating that biliary excretion is not a major route of elimination in humans after broccoli sprout consumption.
After eating broccoli sprouts, gut bacteria break down a compound called glucoraphanin into sulforaphane, which gets absorbed into the blood. The liver then attaches small molecules to sulforaphane to make it water-soluble, turning it into metabolites like SFN-NAC. These water-soluble metabolites are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and released in urine. Very little of these metabolites enter the bile or pass into the intestines, so almost none appear in stool.
What the research says
1 studyWhen people eat broccoli sprouts, most of the good compounds come out in their pee, not their poop — so the liver and bile aren’t the main way the body gets rid of them.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.