Broccoli Sprouts - A Concentrated Nutritional Powerhouse

Imagine being able to turn a well-known cancer fighting vegetable into a concentrated nutritional powerhouse by magnifying its life giving power by up to 50 times. Well, that’s exactly what happens with broccoli sprouts.

Containing concentrated amounts of a powerful chemo-protective compound called sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), broccoli sprouts are increasingly being recognised as one of the most potent food based anticarcinogens available. SGS is a naturally occurring plant compound found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts that, when broken down to its active form sulforaphane, acts as a long-lasting antioxidant that detoxifies carcinogens in the body.  Broccoli sprouts contain up to 50 times more sulforaphane than adult broccoli heads, and are routinely used by scientists investigating the numerous health benefits of this well documented broccoli compound.

Along with providing proven protection against cancer, a regular intake of sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts has also been shown to help prevent a range of other conditions including ulcers, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Researchers are continuing to investigate the numerous health benefits provided by sulforaphane and broccoli sprouts, and over 125 scientific studies have already been published. The following is an overview of some of the health benefits that research has so far revealed:

Cancer
Sulforaphane, found in high concentrations in broccoli sprouts, is believed to prevent cancer by assisting the body to create an enzyme that prevents tumors from forming. Studies have shown that sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts has reduced cancer by 60-80% (Life Extension Dec. 1997). Further studies also showed that sulforaphane aided in shrinking tumors already present (Dr. David G. Williams - Alternatives Jan. 1998). Perhaps the most amazing fact about sulforaphane is that it does not concentrate on certain organs or particular cancers. Because it fights cancers on a cellular level it helps protect all organs from cancer.

A 10-year series of studies on the cancer-fighting potential of broccoli has recently shown that sulforaphane may trigger the production of protective enzymes that can dispose of toxic chemicals. These studies, led by Dr Paul Talalay at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, found that the so-called phase 2 enzymes can detoxify cancer-causing chemicals and are among the most potent anti-cancer compounds known.

According to Dr Paul Talalay, Professor of Pharmacology at John Hopkins University Medical School, three-day-old broccoli sprouts consistently contain up to 50 times the amount of sulforaphane found in mature broccoli heads, and may offer a simple, dietary means of chemically reducing cancer risk.

Scientists have known for years that cancer is less common in people who eat more vegetables, but these broccoli studies were among the first to point to a particular chemical that might account for much of that protection. Subsequent studies found that sulforaphane can prevent the development of breast and colon cancer, as well as other tumors, in mice.

Bladder Cancer
Eating broccoli sprouts may also help prevent or slow the spread of bladder cancer.

Preliminary study findings presented at the Annual Institute of Food Technologists meeting in New Orleans last July, revealed that sulforaphane appears to interfere with bladder cancer cells - especially aggressive cells such as those found in human invasive transitional cell carcinoma that tend to spread quickly around the body.

This recent work, headed by Dr. Steven Schwartz at Ohio State University, builds on a major study conducted seven years ago by Harvard and Ohio State universities. This earlier study found that men who ate two or more half-cup servings of broccoli per week had a 44% lower incidence of bladder cancer compared to men who ate less than one serving each week.

According to Dr Schwartz, work is now being conducted to determine exactly which compounds in broccoli can inhibit or decrease the growth of cancerous cells, and whether they work together or independently. He also confirmed that broccoli sprouts appear to carry a higher concentration of anti-cancer compounds than full-grown broccoli, and suggested that sprouts may be even better for the body.

Stomach Cancer, Ulcers and Helicobacter pylori
Two recent research studies have determined that sulforaphane may be more effective than modern antibiotics in fighting ulcers and – ultimately - stomach cancer.
 
The first study, conducted by Johns Hopkins University and the French National Scientific Research Center, found that sulforaphane may help prevent gastric cancer by reducing Helicobacteri pylori (H. pylori) infection. H. pylori is a known cause of gastritis and is believed to be a major factor in peptic ulcer and stomach cancer. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 28 May 2002, noted that in laboratory tests sulforaphane even killed antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacterium H. pylori and bacteria hiding inside cells.
 
The second study, headed by Dr Akinori Yanaka from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, found that eating 100 grams of broccoli sprouts per day resulted in patients with H. pylori infection experiencing a significant reduction of H. pylori and pepsinogen (a biomarker in the blood indicating the degree of gastritis). The Japanese research findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's 4th annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting, held in Baltimore, 31 October 2005.

Dr Yanaka concluded, "The data suggest strongly that a diet rich in sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) may help protect against gastric cancer, presumably by activating gastric mucosal anti-oxidant enzymes that can protect the cells from H. pylori-induced DNA damage. Even though we were unable to eradicate H. pylori, to be able suppress it and relieve the accompanying gastritis by means as simple as eating more broccoli sprouts is good news for the many people who are infected.”

Cardiovascular System
A study published in the May 2004 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the U.S showed that sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) increased tissue antioxidant defense mechanisms, lowered inflammatory response and improved cardiovascular health.

Dr Bernhard H.J. Juurlink, research team leader and head of the University of Saskatchewan Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, stated that, ”Increasing evidence suggests that antioxidant defense mechanisms may be boosted by specific chemicals known as phase 2 protein inducers, some of which can be found in certain foods. Nearly all the studies to date on SGS and broccoli sprouts have focused on the protective effects of these substances against cancer. This study is the first to show that broccoli sprouts rich in these compounds - through raising the antioxidant and thereby the anti-inflammatory capacities of cells - profoundly affect the cardiovascular system and can correct major dysfunctions such as hypertension and stroke."

Arthritis and Cartilage Protection
New research has even suggested that eating broccoli sprouts may relieve the symptoms of arthritis, protect your cartilage and prevent pain in your joints.

A recent study carried out by researchers at Johns Hopkins University has revealed that sulforaphane appears to block the activity of an enzyme that triggers inflammation in joints. The research findings suggest that a diet rich in sulphoraphane may be good for arthritic joints, or for sportspeople putting their joints under a lot of pressure. This new information could lead to new arthritis treatments and better methods of making artificial cartilage.

During this recent study the researchers added a broccoli compound to a dish containing chondrocyte cells from human joints. After 24 hours, the cells were subjected to a stress test designed to mimic aspects of strenuous exercise on a joint. Heavy exertion can increase the levels of COX-2 enzyme in joints, which triggers inflammation and pain, and suppresses the activity of beneficial phase 2 enzymes. This ultimately kills chondrocytic cells, and when chondrocytes stop functioning properly, arthritis can develop.

Rather than using a toxic pharmaceutical like Vioxx to suppress those enzymes, the researchers added phase 2 enzymes that inhibited inflammation and cellular death beforehand. Sulforaphane has previously been found to boost the activity of helpful phase 2 enzymes, and the laboratory test confirmed this effect.

"The beneficial phase 2 enzymes somehow seemed to prevent the activation of the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme," says John Hopkins University graduate student Zachary Healy, lead author of the paper published in the 27 September 2005 edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  "That means these compounds could be useful as a preventive measure, perhaps before strenuous exercise, says Healy. This has the potential for stopping pain and inflammation before they start."

An intensely tasty sprout with a hint of pepper and radish – broccoli Sprouts are commercially available in both standard and organic grown options, and can be easily sprouted from seed. However, it’s important to avoid using heat-treated seed as this does not sprout as well and may produce disappointing results.