Broccoli found to boost elimination of cancer-causing toxins ?

A human trial conducted in China shows broccoli sprouts can help the body detoxify carcinogens, which may reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.

The study, published in the November issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, was conducted by a team from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, in collaboration with scientists from cancer institutes in Shanghai and Minnesota.

It is understood that this is the first report to provide direct evidence that broccoli sprouts can enhance the body's detoxifying system to help prevent cancer.

The blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in Jiangsu Province near Shanghai, a rural area where the incidence of liver cancer is extremely high due to consumption of foods tainted with aflatoxin, a powerful carcinogen produced by mold contaminating the grain that the population grows and eats. The toxin binds to DNA and becomes a chemical indicator, or biomarker, for an increased risk of developing liver cancer.

Three-day-old broccoli sprouts with known levels of sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) were grown at the site in China and prepared as a liquid extract to ensure standard dosages. One hundred test subjects drank five ounces of the extract - equivalent to eating about two ounces of broccoli sprouts - each day for two weeks. A control group drank a similar extract that contained virtually no SGS.

Tests of subjects' urine showed carcinogens were being detoxified and removed from the body in those who drank the SGS extract. As the levels of sulforaphane derivatives in the urine increased, the amount of DNA damage decreased, which may indicate a reduction in cancer risk.

"While this study did not directly look at liver cancer, it is clear that liver cancer has had devastating consequences in this region of China and in other parts of the world," said participating epidemiologist Dr Jian-Guo Chen from the Qidong Liver Cancer Institute. "This study is an initial step in evaluating dietary methods for preventing this disease, and it may be applicable to other types of cancers," said.

Further studies are in the planning phases to examine dose levels and implications for other high-risk populations.

17th November 2005,
Pharmaceutical Business Review (www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com)

Data and information in this article are from other news sources and is provided for information purposes only. Farmavita.Net shall not be liable for any errors in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Related articles:

Broccoli Extract - Unique extract of fresh broccoli as the guard and stimulator of natural immunity

Broccoli Preparation -  Extract of broccoli is obtained by the unique method which preserves all its ingredients in their natural form found in the fresh vegetable. Contact us for more details.

• 3rd Annual Biosimilars conference (24/11/2008)
• Croatia - Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology (18/10/2008)
• Valuing Pharmaceutical Innovation (14/10/2008)

• CEFTA (12/03/2006)
• Safety Assessment (01/01/2006)
• Obesity is pandemic (27/12/2005)
• Business Development (09/08/2004)