Broccoli Sprouts Help Prevent Prostrate and Colon Cancer

The simple act of adding a handful of broccoli sprouts to your salad or sandwich each day could significantly reduce your risk of prostate and colon cancer.

Two recent research studies have shown that a plant compound found in its highest concentrations in broccoli sprouts could be a major player in the prevention of prostate and colon cancer.

In a study published in the Journal of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine earlier this year, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University showed that simply eating some broccoli sprouts on top of a bagel with cream cheese significantly inhibited histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in humans, and may have the same effects as taking the new pharmaceutical anti-cancer agents, HDAC inhibitor drugs.

Research leader Emily Ho, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at Oregon State University, says that while the research is not at the point where she can tell us exactly what quantity of broccoli sprouts to eat, she personally tries to have two servings of cruciferous vegetables a day.

“I would say if you’re at all worried about cancer or at high risk of cancer, especially of prostate or colon cancer, then increasing your dietary intake of broccoli and other vegetables could be a good idea,” Dr Ho says. “The compound in broccoli may be one of the strongest anti-cancer fighters we have.”

Dr Ho’s findings are supported by a separate study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The UPCI study showed that the plant chemicals found in broccoli sprouts are highly effective in suppressing the growth of human prostate cancer cells at concentrations achievable through dietary intake.

According to the UPCI research leader, Dr. Shivendra Singh, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli sprouts are rich sources of chemicals that not only stop the growth of human prostate cancer cells in mice but could also cut off the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors.

Dr Singh, who presented the study findings at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer research in April says, “The contribution of diet and nutrition to cancer risk, prevention and treatment has been a major focus of research in recent years because certain nutrients in vegetables and dietary agents appear to protect the body against diseases such as cancer. From epidemiologic data, we know that increased consumption of vegetables reduces the risk for certain types of cancer, but now we are beginning to understand the mechanisms by which certain vegetables like broccoli may help our bodies fight cancer and other diseases.”

Previous research at John Hopkins University in the USA has determined that Broccoli Sprouts contain up to 50 times more of the recognised cancer fighting compounds than mature broccoli heads, and are one of the richest sources of the compounds.