AITC for Health & Longevity - Quick Reference Sheet
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AITC for Health & Longevity

Created on 06/12/2026 – Quick Reference based on Evidence Review created using AI4L / Opus 4.8 – Audit

AITC is the pungent compound in mustard, wasabi, and horseradish. In the lab it switches on antioxidant defenses, calms inflammation, and slows several cancer cells, but the one careful human test found no benefit. Food sources are cheap and low-risk; concentrated forms cause burning and clearer downsides than proven upsides. (Full Review)

Protocol

Source
Whole cruciferous foods
Prepared mustard, fresh wasabi or horseradish, mustard seeds/powder — not an isolate
Myrosinase
Add raw mustard powder
Heat destroys the plant enzyme; a raw source restores isothiocyanate formation in cooked foods
Dosing
Food-level, split across meals
No validated human protocol; condiment-level intake with meals, taken with food to limit irritation
Time to effect
Antioxidant / metabolic effects
Weeks to months
No human benefit demonstrated; if real, would require sustained intake by analogy to other isothiocyanates
Sensory burn
Immediate
The wasabi "burn" — irritant and sensory effects are immediate
Clearance
24–72 hours
Parent compound and metabolites cleared quickly, so any dietary intake gives only transient exposure

Benefits

Contraindications
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding (avoid concentrated essential mustard oil entirely in pregnancy)
  • Active peptic ulcer disease or inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)
  • Reactive airway disease (inhaled exposure)
  • Known isothiocyanate or mustard hypersensitivity
    •
Key Interactions
  • Anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin)
  • NSAIDs & gastric irritants (ibuprofen, naproxen)
  • Other Nrf2 activators (sulforaphane, curcumin, resveratrol)
  • Additive irritant supplements (concentrated capsaicin, ginger, horseradish extracts)
  • Chemotherapy and radiation
    •

Risk & Side Effects

  • High: Mucosal, eye & airway irritation
    •
  • Medium: Skin irritation & contact reactions; gastrointestinal upset
    •
  • Low: Pro-oxidant / genotoxic effects at high doses
    •
  • Speculative: Thyroid effects; reproductive & developmental concerns
    •

Monitoring

Marker Target Why
hs-CRP < 1.0 mg/L Tracks systemic inflammation AITC may lower
Fasting glucose 70–85 mg/dL Screens the blood-sugar effect suggested by animal data
Fasting insulin 2–5 µIU/mL Assesses insulin sensitivity, the endpoint AITC targeted in the negative human trial
HbA1c < 5.4% Longer-term view of glucose control
ALT < 25 U/L (men), < 20 U/L (women) Monitors liver, given AITC's hepatic metabolism and animal liver signals
Urinalysis No hematuria or abnormal cytology Bladder surveillance, the tissue where AITC metabolites concentrate

Cadence: Baseline, again at ~8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months (only with concentrated/experimental use; not warranted for ordinary dietary intake)

Qualitative Assessment

  • Digestive comfort (absence of burning, nausea, or reflux after intake)
  • Absence of airway or eye irritation with the chosen form
  • General energy levels
  • Skin tolerance if any topical exposure occurs
Not medical advice. Educational distillation of a single evidence review. Confirm any decision with a qualified clinician, especially in the presence of prescription drugs or chronic conditions.