Cruciferous vegetables, encompassing broccoli, cabbage, and radish, are recognized for their health-promoting properties, particularly due to isothiocyanates, compounds noted for their cancer-preventive capabilities. A study by Nihon University has recently delved into the benefits of these vegetables, with a special emphasis on the isothiocyanates generated at various growth phases.
Lung cancer, influenced by smoking and air pollution, has been a major health issue. Diet, especially cruciferous vegetable consumption, has been proposed as a mitigating factor against lung cancer risk. These vegetables harbor bioactive components that may modify the detoxification process of inhaled carcinogens. A meta-analysis encompassing 31 observational studies suggested an inverse correlation between cruciferous vegetable consumption and lung cancer risk.
Moreover, these vegetables are associated with a diminished risk of colorectal neoplasms, with broccoli being particularly efficacious. This underscores the diet's role in cancer prevention and the potential for gene-diet synergies, where specific genetic configurations, like the GSTT1 null genotype, might offer extra protection against colorectal cancer when combined with cruciferous vegetable intake.
The investigation by Nihon University into eight different cruciferous vegetables, comparing isothiocyanate levels in sprouts and mature stages, revealed significant findings. Daikon radish sprouts exhibited the highest isothiocyanate content, with sulforaphene, a compound, being particularly abundant, approximately 30 times more than sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts.
Source: naturalsciencenews.com