Is Broccoli safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Broccoli. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Maternal broccoli intake was studied as a possible cause of colic in breastfed infants. A questionnaire was sent to nursing mothers asking about food intake during the previous week and their infants' symptoms of colic during that time. One hundred seventy-one mothers who reported colic in their infants during the prior week were 30% more likely to have eaten broccoli during this time than mothers of infants who did not have colic during the previous week. Additionally, many other mothers reported avoiding cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) because of previous symptoms of colic in their breastfed infants that they attributed to these foods.[ 1 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. A pilot study detected no sulforaphane, but did detect its metabolite, sulforaphane- N -acetylcysteine, in the milk of 7 of 8 mothers who had recently eaten a cruciferous vegetable, such as broccoli. The eighth mother reported low intake of cruciferous vegetables in the prior 24 hours.[ 7 ] A single oral dose of a broccoli sprout extract (EnduraCell) equivalent to 21 mg of sulforaphane, was administered to 8 women prior to cesarean section. Two to four days post-delivery, a second dose was administered. Two hours later, maternal blood and breastmilk were collected. Sulforaphane was detected in breastmilk in an average concentration of 1.33 mcg/L.[ 8 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.