Broccoli fights cancer-causing bacteria in humans

H. pylori, is known to cause gastritis and is believed to be a major factor in peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. In humans the cells lining the stomach can act as reservoirs of helicobacter, making it more difficult to get rid of the infection. Nonetheless, in all but 15 to 20 percent of cases it can be tackled with antibiotics.

The findings of the new study, led by Akinori Yanaka of the University of Tsukuba, were presented yesterday at the American Association for Cancer Research's Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting in Baltimore.

The study involved 40 people who were infected with H. pylori. Over a two-month period, 20 of them received 100g of two- to three- day old broccoli sprouts with their food each day. At this young age, broccoli sprouts contain the highest concentrations of sulforaphane.

The other 20 received 100g of fresh alfalfa sprouts.

The rationale for testing broccoli sprouts against alfalfa was that the chemical constituents are very similar. However while broccoli sprouts contain 250mg of sulforaphane glucosinolate per 100g, alfalfa sprouts contain neither sulforaphane nor sulforaphane glucosinolate.

After two months, the broccoli group showed significantly less H. pylori, although the bacterium was not completely eradicated. Participants’ pepsinogen were also reduced. In the alfalfa group however, both H. pylori and pepsinogen remained at pre-intervention levels.

Further tests conducted two months after the end of the intervention showed that both H. pylori and pepsinogen returned to their previous levels when participants stopped consuming the broccoli sprouts.

Commenting on the findings, Yamaka said: "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."

Courtesy of nutraingredients.com