Study of the Efficacy of Sulforaphane in Children Aged 6 to 12 With Attention Deficit Disorder With or Without Hyperactivity (SulfoTDAH)

November 4, 2026 updated by: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. Its prevalence is estimated at 5.9% in this population. The symptoms of ADHD combine attention deficit with behavioural disorders such as hyperactivity and impulsivity. Current treatment for ADHD is based on psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational measures aimed at improving behaviour and its impact on the family, social and school environment. Drug treatments may also be used, depending on the impact of the disorder and the effectiveness of alternative treatments. Psychostimulants such as amphetamine derivatives and methylphenidate are around 80% effective.

Sulforaphane is an active substance derived from broccoli that has already been tested in the treatment of other neurodevelopmental disorders. The main hypothesis is that sulforaphane is effective in treating the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity (ADHD) in children.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a randomised controlled trial with a double-blind control group. The aim is to test the efficacy of Sulforaphane versus placebo by comparing these two groups with a 1:1 ratio.

The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of sulforaphane treatment versus placebo on the total inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity score measured by the ADHD-RS scale (parents) at 8 weeks in children aged 6 to 12 years suffering from ADHD.

The primary endpoint was the ADHD-RS parent inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity score at 8 weeks.

Secondary objectives:

To assess the efficacy of sulforaphane treatment versus placebo at 2, 4 and 8 weeks in children aged 6-12 years with ADHD on:

  • Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms assessed by parents using the ADHD-RS;
  • Social interactions using the SRS scale (Social Responsiveness Scale);
  • Emotional dysregulation using the SDQ (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire);
  • Global functioning using the CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression - Severity) and the CGI-I (Clinical Global Impression - Improvement).

To assess the effect of treatment with sulforaphane versus placebo on attention and inhibition at 4 and 8 weeks: using a specific neuropsychological assessment: CPT (Continuous Performance Test); symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity assessed by the teacher using the ADHD-RS self-questionnaire. Differences in behaviour may be observed depending on the context (school versus family). It is therefore important to have 2 sources of information for the ADHD-RS questionnaire: the parents and the teacher.

To assess the tolerability of treatment with sulforaphane from a clinical point of view (use of a PAERS (Paediatrician Adverse Events Rating Scale) and a biological point of view (blood count, AST, ALT, total and conjugated bilirubin, blood ionogram, urea, creatininemia, T4, TSH).

The subgroup of patients included in the Robert Debré Hospital will have a High Resolution Electroencephalogram (HR-EEG) in order to study the electroencephalographic markers of response to treatment with sulforaphane.

An interview to assess interest in and satisfaction with the treatment will be conducted with the parents (Robert Debré) and the child in the month following the end of the study as part of a qualitative study.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • France
      • Paris, France, 75019
        • Recruiting
        • Robert Debre Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years to 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children aged 6 to 12
  • Diagnosis of ADHD according to DSM-5 criteria (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
  • Followed or hospitalised in an investigating centre
  • Consent of holders of parental authority
  • Patient covered by health insurance (social security or CMU)
  • Patients able to swallow capsules

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Allergy to broccoli
  • Psychotropic treatment including methylphenidate in the month prior to inclusion
  • Ongoing psychotherapeutic and/or psycho-educational treatment specific to ADHD
  • ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) according to DSM-5 criteria, intellectual disability (IQ< 80)
  • Chronic neurological disease, epilepsy
  • Holders of parental authority under guardianship or curatorship
  • Previous intake of sulforaphane
  • Known hypothyroidism or current thyroid treatment
  • Participation in other interventional research involving the human person or being within the exclusion period following previous research involving the human person, where applicable
  • Patient under AME (state medical aid)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Sulforaphane

Prostaphane® is a dietary supplement based on SULFODYNE®, a broccoli seed extract standardised in free, stabilised sulforaphane.

Patients will receive treatment for 8 weeks at the following dosage:

  • 1 capsule/day up to 50 kg,
  • 2 capsules/day from 50.1 to 90 kg;
  • 3 capsules/day above 90 kg,

Each capsule contains 10mg of Sulforaphane.
Dietary supplement: Sulforaphane

taken once a day (one to three capsules a day depending on the patient's weight) for 8 weeks of Sulforaphane
Placebo Comparator: Placebo

Patients will receive treatment for 8 weeks at the following dosage:

  • 1 capsule/day up to 50 kg,
  • 2 capsules/day from 50.1 to 90 kg;
  • 3 capsules/day above 90 kg,

Each capsule contains placebo.
Other: Placebo

taken once a day (one to three capsules a day depending on the patient's weight) for 8 weeks of placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Inattention scores in ADHD-RS parents
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Inattention scores in ADHD-RS (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale) parents
8 weeks
Hyperactivity/impulsivity scores in ADHD-RS parents
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Hyperactivity/impulsivity scores in ADHD-RS (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale) parents
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Inattention scores in ADHD-RS parents
Time Frame: 2, 4 and 12 weeks

Inattention scores in ADHD-RS (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale) parents
2, 4 and 12 weeks
Hyperactivity/impulsivity scores in ADHD-RS parents
Time Frame: 2, 4 and 12 weeks

Hyperactivity/impulsivity scores in ADHD-RS (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale) parents
2, 4 and 12 weeks
Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores and sub-scores
Time Frame: 4, 8 and 12 weeks

Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores and sub-scores
4, 8 and 12 weeks
Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) emotional dysregulation sub-score
Time Frame: 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks

Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) emotional dysregulation sub-score
2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks
Sustained attention and inhibition scores in the CPT (Continuous Performance Test)
Time Frame: 4 and 8 weeks

Sustained attention and inhibition scores in the CPT (Continuous Performance Test)
4 and 8 weeks
CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression - Severity) score
Time Frame: 4 and 8 weeks

CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression - Severity) score
4 and 8 weeks
CGI-I (Clinical Global Impression - Improvement) score
Time Frame: 4 and 8 weeks

CGI-I (Clinical Global Impression - Improvement) score
4 and 8 weeks
ADHD-RS teacher inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity scores
Time Frame: 4 and 8 weeks

ADHD-RS teacher inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity scores
4 and 8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Adverse events score: PAERS (Paediatrician Adverse Events Rating Scale)
Time Frame: 4 and 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Adverse events score: PAERS (Paediatrician Adverse Events Rating Scale)
4 and 8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: Blood count
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: Blood count
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: ASAT (Aspartate aminotransferase)
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: ASAT (Aspartate aminotransferase)
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: ALAT (Alanin aminotransferase)
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: ALAT (Alanin aminotransferase)
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: total bilirubin
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: total bilirubin
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: conjugated bilirubin
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: conjugated bilirubin
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: ionogram
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: ionogram
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: urea
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: urea
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: creatinine
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: creatinine
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: T4
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: T4
8 weeks
tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: TSH
Time Frame: 8 weeks

tolerance of treatment: Blood sample: TSH
8 weeks
Robert Debré patients: EEG-HR (High Resolution Electroencephalogram)
Time Frame: 4 and 8 weeks

the criterion used will be the theta-beta ratio.
4 and 8 weeks
Robert Debré patients: qualitative study:
Time Frame: one month post treatment

The exploration criterion will be an in-depth description of the experience of the families and the child with regard to treatment with sulforaphane (interest and satisfaction).
one month post treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 30, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 10, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • APHP230862

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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