Broccoli

Broccoli is one of Nature's Awesome foods. The sulfur compounds formed, responsible for it's strange taste, are nothing short of a gift from God. The US Government and Drug companies researched the impact of these sulfur compounds on cancers for over 20 years with remarkable results. ref ref  ref The research was abandoned because the drug companies could not artificially make the natural compounds in the lab. Thus without an element to patent, they could not protect their investment. 

Sulforaphane Glucosinolate (SGS) is one of the most dynamic compounds. It promotes healthy cell replication, especially due to its stimulation of cellular phase 2 detoxification. ref article One trade name product, BRASSICA, uses a special type of broccoli that has a far greater concentration of glucosinolates than the vegetable form sold for consumption. More research to consider on:  Bladder cancer   Lung cancer   Breast Cancer  Oral cancers  Pancreatic  Prostate

Broccoli extract ingredient Sulforaphane makes chemodrugs work better with less toxicity to normal cells. For a very complete but high technical analysis of actions for broccoli sulforaphane (SFN) and other cruicferous related nutrients, (PEITC and BITC).  ref 

One method of action explained here.  Broccoli capsule supplements are available that are much higher in sulforaphane glucosinolate content than eating fresh broccoli and avoids the taste. One example is BroccoMax by Jarrow Formulas. A new version includes the enzyme myrosinase to further increase the production of active ingredients. BUT be sure to occasionally eat some fresh broccoli too for the other valuable elements.

Copied below is a study that shows how the active elements in broccoli work on breast cancer pathways.

Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of Sulforaphane for Chemoprevention in the Breast 2007

Brian S. Cornblatt1, Lingxiang Ye2, Albena T. Dinkova-Kostova2, Melanie Erb3, Jed W. Fahey2, Navin K. Singh3, Min-Shue A. Chen4, Tracey Stierer5, Elizabeth Garrett-Meyer6, Pedram Argani4, Nancy E. Davidson6, Paul Talalay2, Thomas W. Kensler1,2,6, and Kala Visvanathan6,7

Departments of Environmental Health Sciences1, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences2, Surgery3, Pathology4, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine5, Oncology6 , and Epidemiology7, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

Abstract:  "Consumers of higher levels of Brassica vegetables, particularly those of the genus Brassica (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage), reduce their susceptibility to cancer at a variety of organ sites. Brassica vegetables contain high concentrations of glucosinolates that can be hydrolyzed by the plant enzyme, myrosinase, or intestinal microflora to isothiocyanates, potent inducers of cytoprotective enzymes and inhibitors of carcinogenesis. Oral administration of either the isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, or its glucosinolate precursor, glucoraphanin, inhibits mammary carcinogenesis in rats treated with 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. In this study we sought to determine whether sulforaphane exerts a direct chemopreventive action on animal and human mammary tissue. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a single 150 μmol oral dose of sulforaphane were evaluated in the rat mammary gland. We detected sulforaphane metabolites at concentrations known to alter gene expression in cell culture. Elevated cytoprotective NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene transcripts were measured using quantitative RT-PCR. An observed 3-fold increase in NQO1 enzymatic activity, as well as 4-fold elevated immunostaining of HO-1 in rat mammary epithelium, provides strong evidence of a pronounced pharmacodynamic action of sulforaphane. In a subsequent pilot study, eight healthy women undergoing reduction mammoplasty were given a single dose of a broccoli sprouts preparation containing 200 μmol of sulforaphane. Following oral dosing, sulforaphane metabolites were readily measurable in human breast tissue enriched for epithelial cells. These findings provide a strong rationale for evaluating the protective effects of a broccoli sprouts preparation in clinical trials of women at risk for breast cancer."

Broccoli extract on lung cancer. ref

CAUTION:  While phase 2 detox enzymes perform vital functions to neutralize toxic elements, they are only part of the process. There is another one called phase 1 detox enzymes that often work on important preparation processes especially converting fat soluble toxins into water soluble ones. ref These two phases are normally matched in activity creating a balanced approach, but if too much phase 1 activity develops, it can have detrimental actions on the body since phase 2 will lag behind. The still toxic and highly reactive elements would remain for too long.

One study on SGS showed that while it induced phase 2 actions, it also generated phase 1 actions in rat lung tissue. In this study, SGS generated destructive results since too many reactive species or toxic forms of elements were created. Until this issue is resolved, it may be wise to just use SGS after the fact of disease development and not as a daily preventative agent. Balance between the two phases may be the answer.

"Isothiocyanates and indoles derived from the hydrolysis of glucosinolates, such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol (I3C), have been implicated in a variety of anticarcinogenic mechanisms, but deleterious effects also have been reported in some experimental protocols, including tumor promotion over prolonged periods of exposure."

This may well be a case of an extract from broccoli needing other elements in broccoli that did not make it out in the extract or are formed as by-products that upset or are used as a balancing factor. This was seen in beta carotene where the synthetic form did not have both forms found in nature, all-trans plus 9-cis. It was the 9-cis form that might protect smokers from increased cancer rates who only used the all-trans synthetic beta carotene in the study.

Broccoli Sprouts  

While fresh broccoli is a wise choice as a vegetable, for therapeutic actions a higher concentration is needed. Three day old Broccoli sprouts can contain 10-100 times the amount of active compounds than are found in fresh broccoli. ref If you take a supplement, while the amounts are sometimes compared to the amounts in fresh broccoli, the amounts still are usually less than in broccoli sprouts. Make sure any supplement mentions the enzyme myrosinase on label as this enzyme is needed to convert nutrients into the active form. ref

There is always the possibility that nutrients can have both benefits are one dosage and adverse effects at either low or excessive levels. Broccoli SGS may be such an ingredient. ref 

The precautionary approach says it probably is best to not take broccoli extracts or sprouts all the time, on and off as symptoms or history dictate.