Latest from Food Politics: An industry-funded study with a rare negative result!

I keep saying that I can often tell who funded a study from its title, and if I know the funder I can often predict the result.   But sometimes I’m wrong.   This is one of those times. The study:  Effects of Short-Term Broccoli Powder ...

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By Marion Nestle August 10 2026 An industry-funded study with a rare negative result! I keep saying that I can often tell who funded a study from its title, and if I know the funder I can often predict the result.  But sometimes I’m wrong.  This is one of those times. The study:  Effects of Short-Term Broccoli Powder Supplementation on Acute Oxidative Stress and Recovery Following a Metabolically Demanding Exercise Session. Cesanelli L, Venckunas T, Minderis P, Maconyte V, Stasiulis A, Snieckus A, Mickevicius M, Mickeviciene D, Kamandulis S.  Antioxidants. 2026; 15(3):379. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15030379 Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term broccoli powder supplementation on metabolically demanding exercise performance, muscle power, and blood lactate recovery. It also investigated broccoli powder-derived sulforaphane bioavailability and its effects in attenuating exercise-induced oxidative stress. Methods: Seventeen healthy males (age 23.8 ± 4.9 years, height 182.3 ± 6.1 cm, weight 80.0 ± 12.8 kg), in a double-blind crossover design, three weeks apart, consumed ten standard doses of either broccoli powder or spinach powder as a placebo over a period of 2 weeks. They then performed a maximal progressive cycling task with concomitant analysis of expired gas composition. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level was measured before and 60 min after the completion of the task, and blood lactate and muscle power (counter-movement vertical jump (CMJ) performance) were measured before and up to 60 min after exercise. Results: The main findings were that despite urine sulforaphane output being markedly higher following broccoli supplementation (p < 0.05), which confirms effective absorption and systemic availability of the compound, this did not influence exercise-induced changes in plasma MDA concentration, blood lactate dynamics, exercise test performance, or functional recovery measured as muscle power via CMJ performance (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, broccoli powder supplementation, despite efficient delivery of sulforaphane, does not seem to either acutely affect performance or modify oxidative stress and recovery from metabolically demanding exercise. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no personal financial relationships, consultancies, or equity interests related to this work. The Smarter Food Company (Norwich, UK) provided partial funding (unrestricted) and supplied the glucoraphanin-rich broccoli and placebo powder used as the study supplements but had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation, manuscript writing, or decision to submit for publication. Comment: So this was one of those studies where I saw the title and asked: “Who paid for this?”  Why would anyone care about the effects of eating broccoli or spinach powder, when nobody eats such things unless they have to?  The obvious answer: the company that sells such things or is thinking of selling them.  Hence The Smarter Food Company.  But then I expected the study to say that broccoli powder produced miracles, but it does not.  High marks to the Lithuanian authors. The post An industry-funded study with a rare negative result! appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Funding effect study of the week: Red Bull Industry-funded study of the week: Ashwagandha supplements Industry-funded study of the week: plant v. animal proteins   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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Latest from Food Politics: Weekend reading: Sustainable Development Goals progress (or lack thereof)

I am totally for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2015, they set targets for the betterment of global populations, to be achieved by 2030. The targets were ambitious from the get go, but it’s a global tragedy that so little has been ...

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By Marion Nestle August 07 2026 Weekend reading: Sustainable Development Goals progress (or lack thereof) I am totally for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2015, they set targets for the betterment of global populations, to be achieved by 2030. The targets were ambitious from the get go, but it’s a global tragedy that so little has been achieved.  Here’s the summary. This report is especially thoughtful, not surprising given its authors.  They would like the report cited as: Sachs, J.D., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., Iablonovski, G. (2026). Implementing Sustainable Development: 2030 and Beyond. Sustainable Development Report 2026. Paris: SDSN, Dublin: Dublin University Press. DOI: 20.500.14765/118015 The report stresses the need for implementation. …the SDGs constitute the most comprehensive moral and political commitment the international community has ever made – to end extreme poverty, ensure quality education, secure good health, achieve gender equality, decarbonize energy systems, protect oceans and forests, build sustainable cities, and make peace within and among nations. The goals are highly ambitious and will not be achieved by the target date of 2030. ..They should remain our framework past 2030 because they define the future we want and need, even if our efforts to build that future have not yet reached the breadth, scale, and speed that the world’s governments pledged in 2015. It lists the lessons: Peace is the foundation of every Goal. The SDGs are about transformation, not business as usual. Transformations require long-term investments. Long-term investments require long-term plans. The scale of action is regional and local, not only national. Finance is decisive – global public goods require global finance Dangerous technologies require global governance. The UN must be for all – and that means on all continents. As for what comes next? First, anchor the agenda in peace and human rights. Stop the wars, restore the UN Charter’s dispute-resolution mechanisms and redirect a meaningful share of military expenditure toward human development. If only. I’m inspired by the SDGs, imperfect as they may be (I’ve written about their strengths, gaps, and progress many times).  And I very much believe in the value of setting unrealistic goals in public health; they define aspirations, and set advocacy agendas, and sometimes they can even be achieved. I want everyone to advocate for this report’s what comes next. Peace Human rights Some military spending redirected to human development ____________________ Arriving Sept 8. For a 30% discount, pre-order here using code UCPSAVE30. The post Weekend reading: Sustainable Development Goals progress (or lack thereof) appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle       Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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