Broccoli is good news! A nutrient found in broccoli shows a very positive effect on the body. In one of the first clinical studies it shows that it may slow the growth of breast cancer cells.
The effect of the nutrient found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, was studied in clinical studies and the researchers found that it slows down the growth of cancerous cells in the breast, especially if it is consumed in the early stages. This compound is also found in other plants that have long narrow seedpods or other cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli , turnip etc.
The nutrient called sulforaphane was tested for the effect it had on the tissues of the breast which had been diagnosed with cancer and the researchers deduced that the effected breast cancer tissues tolerated the compound well and even showed a slower growth of the cancer cells.
Emily Ho, a professor at Oregon State University in US stated “Our original goal was to determine if sulforaphane supplements would be well tolerated and might alter some of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer.” The research scientist further said “We were surprised to see a decrease in markers of cell growth, which means these compounds may help slow cancer cell growth. Dietary approaches have traditionally been thought to be limited to cancer prevention, but this demonstrated it could help slow the growth of existing tumors.”
Traditional approaches made towards cancer say that therapy can be supplemented by other dietary compounds or Sulforaphane in order to slow the progression or prevent cancer. They may even prevent the recurrence of the disease and treat it effectively.
Researchers conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study on 54 women who showed tumerous malignant mammograms and had to undergo a breast biopsy. The women were given the sulforaphane supplements or a placebo. The researchers decided that the sulforaphane supplement that they would administer would be equivalent to a daily dosage of about 1 cup of broccoli sprouts. In the past also there have been studies to prove that a large amount of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, or kale added to the daily diet have shown a lesser risk of breast cancer.
Research states that sulforaphane seems to slow down histone deacetylases, or HDACs, “which in turn enhances the expression of tumour suppressor genes that are often silenced in cancer cells”, stated the research reports.
In the present study the sulforaphane intake reduces the activity of HDAC and also restricts the growth of cancer cells. Research doesn’t end there and work needs to be done in the arenas like evaluation of dose responses, effect on larger number of people, and examination of “the responses of other relevant molecular targets to either foods or supplements containing sulforaphane”, stated the researchers. The research study has been published in the journal “Cancer Prevention Research.”
