Researchers have successfully enhanced a probiotic bacteria called Lactobacillus gasseri to increase its ability to convert sulforaphane—a powerful compound in broccoli—by 81%, from 2.49 to 4.52 units of production per hour. According to Gram Research analysis, the improved bacteria remained completely safe and successfully increased sulforaphane levels in animal studies, suggesting it could eventually help people absorb more health benefits from cruciferous vegetables.
Scientists have created an improved version of a helpful gut bacteria called Lactobacillus gasseri that’s much better at converting a powerful compound found in broccoli called sulforaphane into a form your body can actually use. According to Gram Research analysis, the enhanced bacteria increased its sulforaphane production by 81% while remaining completely safe. This discovery could help people get more health benefits from eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. The researchers used a special technique to evolve the bacteria in the lab, then tested it thoroughly to make sure it was safe for people to consume.
Key Statistics
A 2026 research article published in Food Research International found that laboratory-evolved Lactobacillus gasseri increased sulforaphane production by 81%, raising output from 2.49 to 4.52 units per hour per bacterial cell.
According to research reviewed by Gram, the enhanced probiotic bacteria showed susceptibility to tetracyclines, macrolides, and penicillin antibiotics, indicating strong safety profiles for potential human use.
A 2026 study demonstrated that oral administration of the enhanced Lactobacillus gasseri in animal models increased sulforaphane levels in both the cecum and serum while promoting beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia.
Research from 2026 showed that adaptive laboratory evolution successfully enriched genes related to carbohydrate metabolism in the probiotic bacteria, particularly glycoside hydrolase genes that improve glucoraphanin utilization.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether scientists could improve a probiotic bacteria to better convert a healthy compound from broccoli (called sulforaphane) into a form your body can use and absorb
- Who participated: Laboratory studies with the bacteria strain and animal testing; no human participants were mentioned in the abstract
- Key finding: The improved bacteria increased its ability to make sulforaphane by 81%, going from 2.49 to 4.52 units of production per hour per bacterial cell
- What it means for you: If this bacteria becomes available as a supplement, it could help your body get more benefits from eating broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, though more human testing is needed before it’s widely available
The Research Details
Scientists took a common probiotic bacteria called Lactobacillus gasseri and used a technique called adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) to make it better at processing a compound found in broccoli. Think of it like training an athlete—they exposed the bacteria to broccoli’s compound repeatedly, and over time, the bacteria that were best at handling it survived and reproduced, creating a stronger version.
After creating this improved bacteria, the researchers ran multiple safety tests to make sure it wouldn’t harm people. They checked if it was resistant to antibiotics (which could be dangerous), looked at its genetic code to understand what changed, and tested it in animals to see if it actually worked in a living body.
The animal studies showed that when the improved bacteria were given by mouth, they successfully increased sulforaphane levels in the animals’ blood and gut, and they also helped increase other beneficial bacteria in the gut.
This research matters because sulforaphane is a compound with strong health-promoting properties, but your body can’t absorb much of it directly from broccoli. Your gut bacteria normally help convert it into a usable form, but they’re not very efficient at it. By creating a bacteria that’s much better at this job, scientists could help people get significantly more health benefits from the vegetables they eat.
The study included comprehensive safety testing, genetic analysis, and animal studies, which are important steps before human testing. However, this research hasn’t been tested in humans yet, so we don’t know if the results will be the same in people. The bacteria showed no antibiotic resistance, which is a good safety sign. The genetic changes were analyzed in detail, which helps explain why the bacteria works better.
What the Results Show
The main result was impressive: the improved bacteria produced sulforaphane at a rate 81% higher than the original bacteria (increasing from 2.49 to 4.52 units per hour per bacterial cell). This means if you took this bacteria as a supplement, it would theoretically convert much more of the broccoli compound into the useful form your body can absorb.
When researchers looked at the bacteria’s genetic code, they found that the improvements came from changes in genes related to breaking down carbohydrates, especially genes that help process plant compounds. The bacteria essentially became more specialized at handling the broccoli compound.
In animal studies, when the improved bacteria were given by mouth, they successfully increased sulforaphane levels in both the animals’ blood and their cecum (part of the large intestine). This shows the bacteria survived the journey through the digestive system and actually did their job.
Beyond sulforaphane production, the improved bacteria also changed the overall community of bacteria in the animals’ guts in beneficial ways. Specifically, they increased levels of a bacteria called Akkermansia, which is considered beneficial for gut health. The improved bacteria also remained susceptible to common antibiotics, which is important for safety—it means the bacteria won’t develop resistance to medicines people might need.
This research builds on previous knowledge that Lactobacillus gasseri is a safe probiotic with some natural ability to process broccoli compounds. However, the wild bacteria were never very efficient at this job. This study shows that by using laboratory evolution techniques, scientists can significantly enhance what the bacteria naturally do, making them much more useful as a functional probiotic.
The biggest limitation is that this research was only done in laboratory conditions and animals—it hasn’t been tested in humans yet. We don’t know if the bacteria will work as well in real people, or if there might be unexpected effects. The study also didn’t specify exactly how many animals were used or provide detailed results from the animal studies. Additionally, we don’t know how long the bacteria would survive in a supplement form or how much you’d need to take to get the benefits seen in the animal studies.
The Bottom Line
This research is promising but still early-stage. It shows potential for a future supplement that could help people absorb more sulforaphane from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. However, human studies are needed before anyone should expect to use this bacteria as a supplement. If it does become available, it would likely be most useful for people who eat broccoli regularly but want to maximize the health benefits.
People interested in getting maximum health benefits from vegetables, especially those who eat a lot of broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower, should follow this research. It’s also relevant to people interested in probiotics and gut health. However, people with compromised immune systems should wait for human safety data before considering such a supplement.
This research is still in the laboratory and animal testing phase. It will likely take several years of human clinical trials before this bacteria could become available as a commercial supplement. Even then, it would take weeks to months of regular use to see potential benefits, as probiotics work gradually by changing your gut bacteria composition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can probiotics help my body absorb more nutrients from broccoli?
Research shows that certain probiotics, particularly enhanced strains of Lactobacillus gasseri, can increase sulforaphane production from broccoli by up to 81%. However, this specific enhanced bacteria is still in animal testing and not yet available for human use.
What is sulforaphane and why does it matter?
Sulforaphane is a powerful compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables with significant health-promoting properties. Your body normally can’t absorb much of it directly—gut bacteria must convert it first. Enhanced probiotics could make this conversion much more efficient.
Is this new probiotic bacteria safe to use?
Laboratory testing shows the enhanced bacteria is safe, with no antibiotic resistance and normal genetic safety profiles. However, human safety studies haven’t been completed yet, so it’s not available as a supplement. More research is needed before widespread use.
How long would I need to take this probiotic to see benefits?
Probiotics typically require weeks to months of consistent use to meaningfully change gut bacteria composition and show benefits. The exact timeline would depend on individual factors and dosage, which haven’t been determined in human studies yet.
What vegetables have the most sulforaphane that this bacteria could help with?
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain glucoraphanin, which gut bacteria convert to sulforaphane. Raw or lightly cooked versions contain more of this compound than heavily cooked versions.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly servings of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) and note any digestive changes or energy levels to establish a baseline before and after using any future sulforaphane-enhancing probiotic supplement
- Increase consumption of raw or lightly cooked cruciferous vegetables to 3-4 servings per week, as cooking can reduce the glucoraphanin content that the bacteria need to work with; log vegetable intake and preparation methods in the app
- Create a 12-week tracking period to monitor digestive health, energy levels, and overall wellness before and after introducing a sulforaphane-enhancing probiotic (once available), using the app to record daily observations and identify patterns
This research describes laboratory and animal studies of an enhanced probiotic bacteria that is not yet available for human use. The findings have not been tested in humans, and safety and efficacy in people remain unknown. Do not attempt to use this bacteria or any related supplements without consulting a healthcare provider. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Anyone considering probiotic supplements, especially those with compromised immune systems, should speak with their doctor first.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.